North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region reported 32 confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Feb 20, according to local health authorities.

Thirty cases were reported in the region's capital city of Hohhot, one case was reported in the city of Baotou, and one was reported in Bayannuur city, the Inner Mongolia Health Commission said in a statement.

The new cases were screened from key groups and people under centralized quarantine and in sealed-off areas.

By the end of Feb 20, Inner Mongolia had a total of 175 confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and one imported asymptomatic case under medical treatment.

Their close contacts had all been placed under quarantine for medical observation at designated sites, the commission said.

In response to the new wave, Hohhot started its third round of nucleic acid testing on Feb 21.

Everybody living in the city's Tumd Left Banner, Togtoh county, Helin county, Qingshuihe county, Wuchuan county, Xincheng district, Huimin district, Yuquan district, Saihan district, and the Hohhot Economic and Technological Zone will be tested, and the test results are scheduled to be revealed before 9 am on Feb 22.

The gene sequencing results of the current wave in Hohhot show that it is a delta variant brought in from overseas.

The epidemic is still in its early stages, the number of cases is increasing rapidly, and there is a risk of community transmission and spillover.

Baotou previously conducted nucleic acid tests on Feb 20 on people living in key areas of the city's Hondlon and Qingshan districts. All the samples are currently being screened and tested.