A local resident who returned to Macau from the Philippines on Monday has tested positive for COVID-19, Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced yesterday.

According to a statement by the centre, the asymptomatic patient is a 63-year-old man who received his first and second Sinovac inactivated jab in May and June last year respectively, before receiving an mRNA dose as his booster jab in January.

The man tested negative for COVID-19 in three nucleic acid tests (NATs) in the Philippines, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday last week. He flew from the Philippines to Singapore on Sunday, and caught a connecting flight to Macau the next day.

The man tested negative for the novel coronavirus upon arrival at the local airport on Monday, after which he was transferred to a quarantine hotel for medical observation. However, according to the statement, he tested positive in a follow-up test on Tuesday.

The man has meanwhile been transferred from the quarantine hotel to the Health Bureau’s (SSM) Public Health Clinical Centre in Coloane for isolation.

Meanwhile, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre has also announced two asymptomatic COVID-19 cases imported from Hong Kong.

According to a statement by the centre on Tuesday, the first patient is a 45-year-old local woman who received her first and second Sinovac inactivated jab in May and June last year respectively, before receiving a Sinovac booster jab last month, while the second patient is a 34-year-old local woman who received her first and second mRNA jab in August and September respectively.

Both tested positive for the novel coronavirus upon arrival in Macau from Hong Kong on Monday, because of which they were then transferred to the Public Health Clinical Centre for isolation.

The three cases have raised Macau’s asymptomatic COVID-19 tally to 78.

Macau’s total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases remains at 82.

232 get COVID-19 jabs at mobile station in Iao Hon in 2 days

Meanwhile, a total of 232 residents received a COVID-19 jab in a mobile vaccination station which was parked in Iao Hon Park during a two-day period from Sunday to Monday.

The COVID-19 vaccination vehicle started its walk-in inoculation services early this month, when it was parked outside a social rental housing building in Ilha Verde during a three-day period from April 2 to 4.

Iao Hon Park was the second location where the Health Bureau’s mobile COVID-19 vaccination services were provided.

The mobile COVID-19 vaccination services aim to make it more convenient for residents living in different neighbourhoods to get inoculated, particularly for those with reduced mobility, bedridden individuals and senior citizens.

A statement by the centre on Monday underlined that the Health Bureau will continue to park its COVID-19 vaccination vehicle at other parks and other suitable locations to provide walk-in inoculation services, in collaboration with the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) and social service organisations. Staff members and volunteers of the respective social service organisations will help transport those with reduced mobility and bedridden individuals from their respective residential facilities to the mobile vaccination station.