The Macau government has reduced the number of days of hotel quarantine for arrivals from Hong Kong from 21 days to 14 days.
Under the new measure, which took effect at 12 p.m. on Saturday, those who have completed their 14-day quarantine and medical observation at one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” after arriving in Macau from Hong Kong are required to practise seven days of “self-health management”.
The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre made the announcement about the newly eased quarantine measure for arrivals from Hong Kong in a statement on Friday, which said that the Macau government had decided to ease its quarantine requirement for arrivals from Hong Kong “due to the latest development of Hong Kong’s COVID-19 epidemic situation”.
Friday’s statement also pointed out that the Macau Health Code colour of those undergoing “self-health management” is indicating yellow. The statement also noted that arrivals from Hong Kong will have to undergo a nucleic acid test (NAT) one day before the end of their seven-day “self-health management” – apart from a number of tests carried out during their hotel quarantine period, adding that they will only be allowed to finish their “self-health management” – which then turns their Macau Health Code colour from yellow to green – if they test negative for COVID-19.
The Macau government extended its hotel quarantine period for arrivals from foreign countries and Hong Kong from 14 days to 21 days shortly before Christmas Day last year.
Before the quarantine requirement for Hong Kong arrivals was relaxed on Saturday, those who had been to Hong Kong within the 21 days prior to their entry into Macau had to undergo 21 days of quarantine and medical observation at one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” upon their arrival here. After completing the 21-day quarantine, they had to practise seven days of “self-health management”.
‘14+7’ for HK arrivals
According to the new measure which took effect at 12 p.m. on Saturday, those who have been to Hong Kong within the 14 days prior to their entry into Macau must now undergo only 14 days of quarantine and medical observation at one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” upon their arrival here, after which they are still required to practise seven days of “self-health management”.
‘21+7’ for arrivals from foreign countries unchanged
While the Macau government has now eased its quarantine requirement for arrivals from Hong Kong, its quarantine measure for arrivals from foreign countries remains unchanged, according to which those who have been to a foreign country 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. After completing the 21-day quarantine, they are then required to practise seven days of “self-health management”.
Currently, 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.
No ‘self-health management’ for Taiwan arrivals after quarantine
Since earlier this month, those who have completed their 14-day hotel quarantine in Macau after arriving from Taiwan no longer have to practise 14 days of “self-health management”.
Currently, 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.
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 a day. Employers are required to arrange for those in “self-health management” to work in a way that minimises their contact with others.
A public bus on the 101X route serving the Macau checkpoint of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) drives through the city centre last night. The 24/7 101X route, which connects the city centre and the HZMB Macau checkpoint, is one of the city’s two public bus routes serving the HZMB Macau checkpoint, with the other route being 102X – which travels between the Macau-side checkpoint zone of the Macau-Hengqin joint checkpoint and the HZMB Macau checkpoint. Due to the very low number of travellers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, public bus operator TCM has changed some of the 101X buses from large buses to small buses since early this month. Public bus operator Transmac has changed all the 102X buses from large buses to small buses since late last month. Photo: Tony Wong
