Eight more COVID-19 cases were detected as of 7:00 am on Sunday, all linked to the city's Xinfadi market, Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told media at a press conference on Sunday afternoon.

Xinfadi, a large wholesale market that sells fruits, vegetables and meat, is located in Beijing's Fengtai district and has been caught in the spotlight after a new coronavirus cluster was linked to it. Sunday's new coronavirus cases have brought the total number of new COVID-19 cases in Beijing since June 11 to 51.

Beijing reported zero local transmissions for 56 days before June 11.

So far, at least six districts in Beijing have reported confirmed cases, with Fengtai being the hardest hit with 37 cases.

Speaking at the media briefing, the official revealed that 8,186 swab samples had been collected from people who worked or have been to the market, out of which, 5,803 have tested negative for the virus so far. Fengtai authorities said all 46,000 residents living near the market will be tested.

As of 3:00 pm on Sunday, 394 people who came into close contact with people confirmed to have the virus have been traced, 111 of them have been placed in group quarantine. The rest, who are now observing home isolation, will be moved into centralized quarantine.

Eleven hotels in Fengtai with 1,000 room capacity will be allocated for quarantine use, the official said.