Hong Kong, May 9 (IANS): The Hong Kong Ocean Park is preparing to reopen in the next few weeks in light of improving signs of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Executive of the theme park Matthias Li said.

The Ocean Park has been closed since late January to avoid the spread of the virus, reports Xinhua news agency.

Li told the media on Friday that the closure was "an unprecedented move" and the financial situation has reached an all-time low.

The theme park is expected to reopen in the next few weeks, and will focus on local visitors in the short run.

Also, the park will launch an array of special offers upon reopening, and work with the Hong Kong Tourism Board on further promotional activities, according to Li.

The Ocean Park will halve its capacity for rides and facilities, shorten its opening hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and encourage visitors to make advance reservations online instead of queuing up to keep social distancing.

On reopening, all visitors and staff are required to undergo temperature checks at the entrance and wear face masks inside the park.

The park has sprayed disinfectant on main facilities, and installed disinfection carpets and hand sanitizer dispensers at entrances of all animal exhibits.

All programs allowing visitors to get closer to animals will be suspended.

This development comes the same day when Hong Kong residents were able to go to gyms, beauty parlours, bars, restaurants, and other public venues which were closed for more than a month city city officials allowed a partial reopening of eight types of business, but with conditions.

Hong Kong recorded no new COVID-19 cases on Friday, a day after the city detected four imported cases in residents returning from Pakistan, with the tally standing at 1,044.

It marked the 12th time in the past 19 days that no additional infections had been recorded and was also the 19th straight day of no locally transmitted cases.