People line up to receive a COVID-19 test in the Palding village of Lhasa, Tibet autonomous region, on Friday morning. [Photo by Palden Nyima/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The Tibet autonomous region reported 32 locally confirmed COVID-19 cases and 946 asymptomatic carriers between Thursday and 2 pm Friday, health authorities said at a news briefing in Lhasa on Friday.

As of Thursday, the region had 375 areas designated as high-risk for COVID-19 and 208 for medium-risk. A total of 11 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery on Thursday, 15 asymptomatic infectors and 196 close contacts were dismissed from medical observation, but 33,760 close and secondary contacts have been traced are still under centralized isolation for further medical observation.

Tenzin Lhundrub, deputy secretary of the regional people's government and spokesman of the regional government, said the region's epidemic has seen a trend of quick increase over the last few days, with quick increase in daily infected cases.

"The region's epidemic situation is in a period of rapid increase, and the situation of prevention and control is grim, we hope everyone will continue to actively support the prevention and control work and measures," said Tenzin Lhundrub.

The region currently has 177 medical institutes capable of conducting nucleic acid tests, more than 2,100 medics have been involved in the nucleic acid testing works, providing testing services to the region's population.

In addition, the region's Ngari prefecture had its first makeshift hospital operational by Thursday afternoon. Located in the prefecture's gymnasium, the hospital is facilitated with beds, quilts, toiletries, 37 medics and it has an open space for the patients to ease their stress.

By Daqiong and Palden Nyima