People wearing face masks visit the Ruins of St. Paul's in Macao, Jan 30, 2020. (PHILIP FONG / AFP)

HONG KONG - In order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government on Thursday indefinitely postponed the date on which all local schools will reopen.

The arrangement covers tertiary and non-tertiary schools, private supplementary teaching assistance centers, and institutions for continuing education, according to a government statement.

ALSO READ: Central govt supports HK, Macao in curbing virus spread

The government will announce the specific arrangements for resuming classes a week before it decides to allow educational institutions to reopen, according to the statement.

As of Thursday, Macao recorded seven imported cases of the novel coronavirus infection.