(Yicai Global) Feb. 28 -- China's gambling hub the Macau Special Administrative Region has opted to resume normal operations of the public sector and some entertainment venues from next week as the Covid-19 epidemic comes under tentative control, CCTV reported today.

All public agencies of the SAR Government will resume normal office and external services from March 2. Cinemas, theaters, bars, karaoke bars and private teaching and guidance institutions in Macau will re-open but continue to give effect to corresponding epidemic prevention measures, the region's Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center announced yesterday.

The SAR has had no new confirmed cases for 23 days in a row. Curbs on travel by non-local workers between Macau and the Chinese mainland have been in place for some time and the epidemic has also let up in neighboring Guangdong province, which saw no new cases for 9 straight days in Zhuhai, which borders Macau, and no new cases for 10 consecutive days in Zhongshan, and the government thus decided to resume work, noted Li Zhanrun, the director of Macau Health Bureau, noted.

Regulations require residents to submit a health certificate when they go to government offices, have their temperatures checked and wear a mask. Employees and customers in entertainment venues must wear masks at all times except when eating, including while exercising and dancing, and urge these venues to only accept customers to half their maximum capacity.

The special administrative region has had 10 confirmed Covid-19 cases thus far, of whom eight have recovered and left hospital. The region has registered no deaths to date, according to data China's National Health Commission released today.

Editor: Ben Armour