Jilin province is racing against the clock to reach zero-COVID status at the community level, officials said on Wednesday.

"The cities of Changchun and Jilin will continue to promote the epidemiological investigation standard and mobilize their full testing capacity," Geng Jianren, an official with the provincial Health Commission, said at a news conference on Wednesday. "We will also continue to promote standardized management of designated hospitals and makeshift hospitals in Changchun and implement transport and quarantine measures for infected patients."

Changchun began a five-day dynamic zero-COVID approach on Sunday, according to a statement from the city's epidemic prevention and control headquarters on Sunday.

Groups of medical workers have also been dispatched from different regions in the province to Changchun to assist with epidemic control work.

Universities in the province have prepared for the return of teachers and students who meet the requirements of discharge from hospitals and quarantine.

"During the recent outbreak, universities in the province have adopted screening methods and nucleic acid test reviews, and have transported infected people and newly identified close contacts to effectively block the spread of the epidemic on campus," Geng said. "So far, a total of 19,274 teachers and students from 22 universities, including 17,654 who have finished quarantine and 1,620 who have been discharged from hospitals, have returned to their campuses."

Jilin province reported 973 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 1,798 asymptomatic carriers on Tuesday, the Health Commission said on Wednesday.

Of the confirmed cases, 817 were found in Changchun, 136 in Jilin city, 11 in Baicheng, five in Siping and four in Baishan.

Of the asymptomatic carriers, 1,682 were identified in Changchun, 112 in Jilin city and two each in Siping and Baicheng.

"As a major agricultural province, Jilin is responsible for ensuring food security of the country," Geng said on Tuesday. "Despite the critical nature of epidemic prevention and control, government departments are making efforts to ensure the smooth progress of spring plowing."

The provincial leading group on COVID-19 prevention and control on Monday released a plan for transferring farmers stranded in the cities of Changchun and Jilin to their hometowns for plowing.

"Under the plan, those who meet the requirements for epidemic prevention and control can apply to the community," he said. "Community staff members should report their information to special work teams for spring plowing in the two cities within 24 hours."

The city of Jilin has planned to transfer the first batch of stranded farmers between Wednesday and Friday, officials said on Wednesday.

"After registering, eligible farmers can get a pass from the community," Wang Feng, deputy director of the city's bureau of agriculture and rural affairs, said at a news conference on Wednesday. "They will receive both nucleic acid testing and rapid antigen testing, and will be allowed to return with negative results."

To avoid gathering, local governments encourage those who have private cars to drive home, he said. For those without private cars, local government will organize centralized transportation with arrangements made in advance.

Contact the writer at zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn