Guangdong registered 15 new local COVID-19 cases, including four previously identified as asymptomatic, and five new locally-transmitted asymptomatic carriers on Wednesday, according to a statement released by Guangdong Provincial Health Commission on Thursday. All the cases were detected in Guangzhou.

The province discovered another two imported confirmed cases and seven imported asymptomatic carriers on Wednesday.

As the number of coronavirus patients and asymptomatic carriers detected in the province continues to rise, Guangdong's Party chief urged relevant departments to ensure concrete and effective measures to fight against the resurgence in Guangzhou, the provincial capital.

Li Xi, Party secretary of Guangdong province, said, "More resolute, decisive, strict and rapid measures should be put into place, as the coronavirus prevention and control is at a critical juncture."

Li made the remarks on Wednesday when meeting the medical and community workers and volunteers working on the front line in Guangzhou.

Li was accompanied by Ma Xingrui, governor of Guangdong province, and other senior Party and government officials from the province.

Li and Ma urged relevant departments and organizations to ensure sufficient supplies of food and daily necessities in the entire city and effectively guarantee the living needs of the mass residents in the communities affected by the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Guangzhou police denied rumors that two foreign COVID-19 patients have escaped from the designated hospital on Thursday.

Police are investigating the case and the two suspected rumor mongers have been detained, police said in a statement.