Officials attend the Zhejiang government's news conference on May 8, providing media organizations with the latest updates on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus. [Photo/ zj.zjol.com.cn]

Zhejiang, a province in East China, will enhance efforts to carry out health checks and prevent against imported cases, according to a report delivered at the provincial government's news conference on May 8.

Chen Guangsheng, deputy secretary-general of the Zhejiang Provincial Government and deputy director of the province's leading team for the prevention and control of COVID-19, delivered a report on the current status of epidemic control efforts.

According to Chen, by May 7, there had been 1,218 reported local cases, 1,217 of whom had recovered and been discharged from hospital and one of whom passed away from the virus.

There had been 50 reported imported cases, all of whom had recovered and been discharged from hospital.

According to his report, as of May 7, 42 people showing no symptoms had been put under medical observation (27 of whom were from foreign countries).

In a bid to better detect asymptomatic coronavirus carriers, the government of Zhejiang plans to carry out free nucleic acid testing on close contacts of infected people and medical workers.

The government also plans to provide free testing services for people from Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province.

Officials said at the conference that as epidemic prevention efforts become increasingly routine, imported cases have declined. However, they said that this will not disrupt Zhejiang's relations with foreign cities.

Officials also stressed that the Zhejiang government will increase efforts to prevent imported cases.

According to the reports delivered at the conference, in a bid to stabilize employment, Zhejiang will subsidize small and micro-sized companies that lay off few or no workers.

The Zhejiang government also ruled that state-owned companies in the province must increase jobs for college graduates, and the government will also provide them with more than 10,000 jobs.

Officials also briefed reporters on measures to help residents living on low incomes amid rising living costs.