Beijing will lower its level of emergency response to COVID-19 from Level II to Level III starting Monday, Chen Bei, deputy secretary-general of the Beijing municipal government, announced at a press conference on Sunday.

The announcement comes almost a month after the city raised its COVID-19 emergency response to Level 2 on June 16 as a new cluster related to Xinfadi wholesale market in south Beijing's Fengtai District was reported. 

Beijing recorded no new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases for the 13th day in a row on Saturday. The total number of cases since the cluster outbreak was discovered on June 11 stands at 335, the municipal health commission said on Sunday.

A total of 16 asymptomatic cases are still under medical observation, the health commission said.

Thirteen patients have recently recovered, taking the total number of recoveries to 203. In addition, all serious and critical COVID-19 patients have recovered.

With the downgrading of the emergency response level, Beijing will gradually begin to hold conventions, exhibitions, sports events and performances, according to Chen, adding that cinemas in the city will also be reopened with limitations on the number of visitors. 

Gatherings of up to 500 people will be allowed if they meet the requirements of COVID-19 prevention. 

Parks, tourist attractions, gyms, libraries and museums will also be reopened with limitations on the number of visitors. 

Read more: China to reopen cinemas in low-risk areas from July 20