In a major turnaround, the nation's capital logged single-digit SARS cases on Monday, the first time the number of new cases has not been in double figures.

Although it raises optimism in the fight against the killer virus, experts say it will continue to be a protracted battle.

But signs of reviving confidence are evident on Beijing's streets and in its thousands of restaurants, after weeks in which the capital's 13 million people were gripped with fear.

Marked with the sign: "This restaurant and its cutlery have been sterilized," many catering outlets have reopened and crowds of patrons are pouring in.

At a newly reopened restaurant in Chaoyang District, a diner named Lu Peihong, accompanied by her husband, said she was happy to be out of the house as she was bored of cooking at home.

"I am very glad that the restaurant has started cooking again and the hygiene conditions here are much better than before," Lu said.

"Antiseptic tissues were offered before we had dinner and soft soap as well as hand dryers have been installed in the toilets."

Despite its huge impact, SARS has allowed the catering industry to undertake renovations and improvements, according to Han Ming, chairwoman of the China Hotel and Restaurant Association.

She said Chinese food had a very long history and was recognized for its colour, smell and taste.

"Now we should add 'clean' to the requirement of features," she said.

Han said the hygienic conditions of many of the nation's restaurants, especially the smaller ones, had been unsatisfactory for a long time.

She called for the catering industry to take the opportunity to further improve its services as people now had an increased hygiene consciousness, due to SARS.

"Also, traditional eating habits such as people sharing food from common plates on the table should undergo some change," Han suggested.

According to the Beijing Commerce Committee, half of the estimated 30,000 restaurants in Beijing have suspended their business as sales volumes took a hammering from SARS fears.

Like other battered industries such as the tourism, hotel and entertainment sectors, the city's restaurants have witnessed a slump of nearly 70 percent in business since April 20, compared with the same period last year, according to the committee.

However, take-out businesses have been embracing the growing opportunities and the health authorities have introduced stricter hygienic standards on the sector.

(China Daily May 22, 2003)