This photo dated April 18, 2019 shows the Central Government Offices (right) at Tamar, Hong Kong. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong will gradually resume public services from April 1 as the global financial hub posted its lowest number of daily infections in about a month on Friday.

In a statement issued on Friday evening, the Hong Kong government said it aims to have all government departments returning to normal service by April 21 "if the infection does no rebound".

The government added that some non-emergency and non-essential services may be resumed at a later time as some departments will still need to mobilize manpower and resources to fight the epidemic due to restrictions in anti-epidemic regulations.

Noting that battling the epidemic is still the top priority and most important task, the government said it will mobilize all available manpower and resources for this purpose

Noting that battling the epidemic is still the top priority and most important task, the government said it will mobilize all available manpower and resources for this purpose.

READ MORE: HK new virus cases hit 1-month low with 10,405 infections

“All government employees have to stand ready and participate in anti-epidemic work when called upon by their departments, irrespective of their original and usual duties,” it added.

As the city’s COVID-19 situation saw a downward trend in recent days, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced earlier this week the lifting of measures including a ban on dining in restaurants after 6 pm, and the reopening of most public venues and sports facilities.

Schools are also due to resume face-to-face classes by April 19.

Many people in the financial hub have been working from home since February when the fifth wave of the highly transmissible Omicron variant swept through the city.

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The government called on employers to continue to allow staff members to work from home as far as possible and resume normal operations in a gradual and orderly manner "in accordance with the timeline for the phased relaxation of the social distancing measures."

Health authorities reported 10,405 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, down from 13,074 the previous day. The city hit a record high of over 58,000 infections on March 9.

With Reuters inputs