The Macau government announced this afternoon the suspension of all businesses, including the city's about three dozen casinos, from Monday 00:00 until next Sunday 11:59 p.m., except those that are needed to maintain civil society's normal functioning.
The one-week suspension, based on an executive order by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng promulgated in the Official Gazette (BO) today, was announced by Secretary for Administration and Justice Andre Cheong Weng Chon at the daily press conference of the Novel Coronavirus Prevention and Coordination Centre.
Cheong stressed that the new measures are an order, not a recommendation. Anyone violating the order faces up to two years in jail, he said.
According to the executive order, electricity, water and gas utilities, telecom companies, public transport, hotels, cleaning companies, property management, security companies and wholesale and logistics companies will stay open.
Wet markets, supermarkets, restaurants' takeaway services and public health services will also remain open. Dine-in services will continue to be prohibited.
Cheong also said that the media sector "cannot stop operating".
According to the executive order, pharmacies and public health services will also stay open.
The order also states that "exceptionally" the government can allow other businesses to remain open as well.
Staff members of businesses allowed to stay open must regularly scan the venue code at the workplace.
The order also requires all residents to only leave home for work, for urgent reasons or to buy daily necessities.
Cheong said that domestic helpers are considered "essential workers" are therefore allowed to continue working for their employers.
A Macau Public Security Forces spokesman said at the press conference that the police will reinforce their street patrols next week to ensure that people do not violate next week's special measures.
According to the order, all adults must wear KN95 facemasks or those of higher quality when out and about.
Cheong insisted that the measures announced this afternoon do not amount to a citywide lockdown of the population.
Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong pointed out that businesses ordered to close during the week-long measure are not required by law to pay the salaries of their employees during that period.
Banks will be closed but for limited services. Public services will only offer essential services, Cheong said.
Ho's executive order said that measures were needed to prevent the transmission of the novel coronavirus.
Macau's current COVID-19 outbreak was detected on June 18. The outbreak's tally has reached 1,374 confirmed cases, including two fatalities, according to statistics announced during the press conference.
People in Macau are required to undergo nucleic acid tests (NATs) every other day next week. They also must self-test for the virus once a day. The government has distributed free rapid antigen test (RAT) kits and KN95 facemasks at NAT stations which have been operating since shortly after the current outbreak.
Both the NATs and RATs are mandatory but free of charge.
Macau confirmed its first COVID-19 case on January 22, 2020
Macau Health Bureau officials say that the new Omicron variant BA.5 is driving the current outbreak, pointing out that BA.5 has become the dominant strain due to its high degree of transmissibility.
