The government’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced in a statement last night that those who are required to undergo 14 days of quarantine and medical observation at a government-designated “quarantine hotel” after arriving in Macau will also be required from today to practise at least 14 days of “self-health management” after completing their quarantine.
Those who are required to undergo 21 days of medical observation at a government-designated “quarantine hotel” after arriving in Macau will be required from today to practise at least seven days of “self-health management” after completing their quarantine, the statement said.
The statement pointed out that during their “self-health management” period, their Macau Health Code will indicate yellow, according to which “they must strictly adhere to various personal hygiene measures”.
The new measure took effect at 00:00 today.
The statement also said that they will have to undergo a nucleic acid test (NAT) one day before the end of their respective “self-health management” period, adding that they will only be allowed to finish their “self-health management” if they test negative for COVID-19.
Previously, the government had already required those who had completed their 14-day hotel quarantine to practise seven days of “self-health management”.
Last night’s statement said that the government has decided to implement the new toughened “self-health management” measure “in response to the latest development of the COVID-19 epidemic situation”.
According to the Health Bureau’s (SSM) guidelines, those undergoing their “self-health management” are advised not to leave home unless going to work or school. If they need to go outside, they should always wear a facemask. They need to check their temperature twice every day. Employers are required to arrange for those in “self-health management” to work in a way that minimises their contact with others.
Currently, those who have been to a foreign country or Hong Kong within the past 21 days must undergo 21 days of quarantine and medical observation at one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” upon their arrival in Macau. Those who have been to Taiwan within the past 14 days must undergo 14 days of medical observation at one of the “quarantine hotels” upon their arrival here.
In general, those arriving in Macau from the mainland merely have to present a nucleic acid test (NAT) certificate confirming that they have tested negative for COVID-19 within the past seven days, without having to undergo quarantine upon their arrival here. However, those who have been in an area in the mainland where new local COVID-19 cases have recently been confirmed also need to undergo 14 days of quarantine upon their arrival in Macau.
Over the past few weeks, the Macau government has imposed 14-day quarantine on arrivals from certain districts, counties, towns and communities in a raft of cities in the mainland, comprising Beijing and a number of cities in Hebei province, Heilongjiang province, Jilin province and Liaoning province.
