SHENYANG -- A new locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 case was reported in Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning province, the city headquarters in charge of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control said Friday.

The new patient, a 16-year-old student, is the granddaughter of the female patient who returned from the Republic of Korea on Nov 29 and tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday after being released from two weeks of medical isolation. The student came in close contact with her grandmother whose nucleic acid and serum antibody tests were negative during quarantine.

The young woman's nucleic acid test result was negative on Dec 22 and turned positive two days later. She has been transferred to a designated hospital for treatment.

Two communities in Shenyang were upgraded to medium-risk areas for COVID-19 on Thursday.