In this file photo taken on March 5, 2019, visitors take photos outside the Wynn casino resort with a view of the Grand Lisboa, top center, casino resort building in Macao. (ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)

HONG KONG - Macao has sealed off one of the city's most famous hotels, the Grand Lisboa, after more than a dozen COVID-19 cases were found there on Tuesday.

At least 16 other buildings across the special administrative region are also cordoned off with no one allowed to exit or enter.

READ MORE: Macao extends virus shutdown of city, casinos stay open

Authorities reported 146 new infections on Wednesday, taking the total to more than 1,000 cases since mid-June. 

Authorities reported 146 new infections on Wednesday, taking the total to more than 1,000 cases since mid-June

More than 14,000 people are in quarantine as the city battles to contain its biggest outbreak since the pandemic began. Macao had largely been COVID-free since an outbreak in October 2021.

The Grand Lisboa is the second casino hotel sealed off in recent weeks. Owned by SJM Holdings, which was started by former Macao kingpin Stanley Ho, the Lisboa is one of the city's most well known landmarks.

Local media showed photos of the hotel cordoned off with people in protection gear and hazmat suits standing outside. The Grand Lisboa was not immediately available for comment.

While the government has stopped short of imposing a full scale lockdown of the city, most facilities are shut and restaurants can only provide takeaway.

Residents have been asked to stay at home as much as possible and are required to take part in three citywide COVID-19 tests this week. People are also required to take rapid antigen tests in between.

Macao's casinos have been allowed to stay open.

The city adheres to the "zero-COVID" policy which aims to eradicate all outbreaks to ensure the safety of its residents.

ALSO READ: Macao seals off some buildings as COVID infections creep up

It still has an open border with the Chinese mainland, with its economy firmly hinged to the inflow of mainland visitors.

The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 112 locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases, including 81 in Anhui province and nine in Shanghai, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.  

Shanghai has suspended operations of KTV karaoke venues in the city as it tries to stem the recent outbreak from one such location, a city official said on Wednesday. Other recently reopened cultural venues like libraries will be allowed to stay open.

The scheduled reopening of cinemas and performance venues on Friday will still go ahead, said Jin Lei, the deputy director of the city's culture and tourism bureau at a press conference.

Tuesday saw no new deaths from COVID-19 on the mainland, with the death toll standing at 5,226.