The Macau government announced yesterday that three of its five policy secretaries have “recently” been infected with COVID-19 for the first time, all of whom have come down with slight symptoms only.
None of them needed to be hospitalised.
The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre made the announcement in a statement yesterday, according to which the three are Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon, Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak, and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U.
The statement noted that the daily number of new COVID-19 infections in the city has been on the rise over recent days, urging residents to strengthen their self-protective measures with the aim of lowering their infection risk.
In addition, the statement said, Cheong, Wong, and Ao Ieong were infected with the novel coronavirus “recently”. Two of them were infected during their respective working trips outside Macau, according to the statement, which did not identify the two who were infected outside Macau.
All three policy secretaries are in a stable condition with minor symptoms, the statement said, adding that none of them has required hospitalisation.
Informed sources told the local media yesterday that Ao Ieong was now resting after returning to Macau from her working visit. According to the sources, Wong tested positive for COVID-19 during his working trip outside Macau. The sources said that Wong was still on his working trip.
The sources also said that Cheong has not had a working trip in recent days, adding that he had been working before testing positive for COVID-19. Cheong was now resting at home after having been diagnosed with COVID-19, the sources said.
According to recent Macau government statements, Ao Ieong has recently returned to Macau from a working visit to Hainan province.
The Macau government has not revealed details of Wong’s ongoing working trip outside Macau.
Yesterday’s statement reminded the public that while senior citizens and those with chronic diseases may not come down with serious symptoms initially after having been infected with the novel coronavirus or other respiratory infectious diseases, their symptoms are likely to worsen several days later. Consequently, the statement said, the two groups of people should seek treatment promptly after having come down with COVID-19 symptoms or other respiratory symptoms.
The statement urged residents to receive seasonal influenza jabs as well as COVID-19 booster shots. Residents should also comply with the government’s current facemask-wearing guidelines on the prevention of COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases, which took effect late last month, the statement said.
The statement also said that those who have come down with a fever, muscle pain, sore throat, cough, runny nose, or conjunctivitis (aka pink eye) should seek treatment promptly and rest at home.
3 more COVID-19 patients admitted on Tuesday
Meanwhile, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced in a separate statement yesterday that three more COVID-19 patients were admitted to the private Kiang Wu Hospital on Tuesday.
Consequently, a total of 30 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to treatment facilities, either the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre or the private Kiang Wu Hospital, during a nine-day period from May 1 to 9.
Last month, there were only two days when Macau had new COVID-19 patients admitted to treatment facilities, namely two on April 25 and three on April 27.
According to the latest official statistics, as of Tuesday Macau’s official cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 3,550.
Macau has not recorded any COVID-19 fatalities for 96 days in a row, from February 3 to May 9. Consequently, Macau’s official COVID-19 death toll has remained unchanged at 121.
Pedestrians walk in Largo do Senado, the city’s main square, last night. – Photo: Tony Wong
