But Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova warned that while it appeared "the trend is slowing" for the epidemic, "there could be a resurgence, and that could occur in the next few days or even much later."

Lab tests on hundreds of suspect cases revealed four more deaths, bringing the total to 26. The number of infected patients detected since the start of the emergency on April 23 stood at 701, not including those killed.

The government and authorities in Mexico City -- where most of the fatalities and infections occurred -- said that from Wednesday they would start reopening venues closed nearly a week ago to prevent contagion.

Restaurants and other eateries would open first, followed by museums and religious centers on Thursday, said the capital's deputy mayor, Jose Avila.

Nightclubs, cinemas and theaters were to remain closed until further notice, he added.

The easing of restrictions was welcomed by Mexicans, most of whom were spending a five day holiday weekend at home, either at the urging of President Felipe Calderon or because no activities were available.

The hospitality sector in the capital said the closure of indoor entertainment places was costing the economy 100 million dollars a day and putting 450,000 jobs at risk.

The finance ministry had said a more prolonged clampdown risked shaving some 70 billion dollars off gross domestic product.

Hardest hit was Mexico's tourism industry, which accounts for eight percent of economic output and is the third-biggest legal source of foreign revenue.

Hotels in Mexico City were down to 10 percent occupancy, and foreign visitors were virtually absent from the city center. Sites such as Mexico's famed Aztec pyramids were off-limits.

But Mexico's president told state television late Sunday that would change now that it appeared authorities were about to "overcome" the virus.

"We have been able to hold or at least reduce the rate of propagation of the virus to contain the epidemic," he said.

His government was to look at when schools, which have been shut nationwide for more than a week, could resume classes. A sanitization program was underway.

Cordova said the H1N1 epidemic peaked in Mexico April 23-28, and the relatively fewer people now turning up for medical attention had "less and less serious" flu symptoms.

Of the 26 dead, 16 were women, the minister said, adding the age of the fatalities was between 21 and 40 years.

The government has defended its handling of the epidemic, saying officials had been prompt in acting, and the measures initially adopted had been prompted by a worst-case scenario of up to 50,000 deaths.

At the peak of the crisis early last week, the health minister had spoken of 159 "probable" deaths, prompting the World Health Organization to warn a pandemic was "imminent."

But while the crisis calmed, a diplomatic row exploded between Mexico and China over the quarantine of 70 Mexicans in China.

Mexico said most of them showed no sign of swine flu and it was "unjustified" they be kept locked up in hotels, especially as some had arrived from countries untouched by the epidemic.

China denied an accusation it was discriminating against Mexicans.

Amid the chill, each country on Monday sent a charter flights to the other to repatriate its nationals.

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