Addressing yesterday’s press conference about Macau’s novel coronavirus situation, Health Bureau (SSM) officials reaffirmed that only if Hong Kong has zero new local COVID-19 cases for at least 28 consecutive days can the phased implementation of quarantine-free travel arrangements between Macau and Hong Kong with certain COVID-19 prevention requirements in place get off the ground.
Yesterday’s reaffirmation by Macau health officials came after Hong Kong confirmed another local COVID-19 case yesterday, a 27-year-old male airport ground-crew member, causing its record of zero local infections for 16 consecutive days to be broken.
Hong Kong’s health authorities have classified the latest local COVID-19 case as an untraceable case, saying yesterday that it was likely that the man caught the virus at the airport.
The Macau Health Bureau announced on Monday – when Hong Kong had not recorded a new local COVID-19 case for 14 consecutive days – that Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U had a video conference with Hong Kong senior officials earlier that day, during which the two sides reached a consensus on the gradual relaxation of travel restrictions between the two regions, according to which “conditional” exemptions from the Macau government’s quarantine requirement for arrivals from Hong Kong will be implemented in phases if the neighbouring city has zero new local COVID-19 cases for at least 28 consecutive days.
The Health Bureau said on Monday that once the quarantine exemption eventually got off the ground, certain safety measures would be implemented for those travelling between the two cities. According to Monday’s announcement, only those who have been inoculated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior would be covered by the quarantine exemption. In addition, the travellers need to undergo several nucleic acid tests (NATs) before and after arriving in Macau.
During yesterday evening’s press conference, reporters repeatedly asked whether the 28-day requirement for the commencement of the quarantine-free travel arrangements between Macau and Hong Kong would need to be “recalculated” – i.e. Hong Kong would need to have zero new local COVID-19 cases for at least 28 consecutive days counting from yesterday, when its latest local case was announced by the Hong Kong authorities.
Replying to a reporter’s question on the matter, the Health Bureau’s Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Department Coordinator Leong Iek Hou said, “As we have recently announced, the prerequisite for the relaxation of border entry curbs between Hong Kong and Macau is that Hong Kong has zero new local COVID-19 cases for at least 28 consecutive days.
“Macau and Hong Kong are discussing details on the relaxation of each other’s border entry restrictions, which will enable the measure to get off the ground immediately once Hong Kong meets the 28-day requirement. For the time being we do not have any details on the matter to announce,” Leong said.
After another reporter asked whether the 28-day requirement would need to be “recalculated” due to the local COVID-19 case announced by the Hong Kong authorities yesterday, Leong said, “According to our recent announcements, Hong Kong will need to have zero new local COVID-19 cases for at least 28 consecutive days so that it can meet the prerequisite for the relaxation of border entry curbs between Hong Kong and Macau.”
One more reporter asked the health officials to clarify whether the 28-day requirement would recommence from yesterday, Tai Wa Hou, a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, said, “According to the consensus that has been reached by both sides, the prerequisite for the reopening of the [Hong Kong-Macau] border [without the need to quarantine] is that Hong Kong will need to have zero new local COVID-19 cases for at least 28 consecutive days.”
28-day requirement needs to be ‘recalculated’
“Only after this prerequisite is met, can the border reopening be implemented. Now it is no longer the case that Hong Kong would meet the 28-day requirement as initially scheduled [due to its latest new local COVID-19 case]. Therefore, I believe that the 28-day requirement will need to be recalculated,” Tai said.
Tai said that the fact that Hong Kong has now confirmed a new local COVID-19 case “will not affect” the ongoing discussions between the two cities on “technical” details about how to implement the quarantine-free travel arrangements.
208 million ‘government masks’ sold
Meanwhile, the 31st round of the government’s facemask purchase scheme will start tomorrow. The facemasks sold under the scheme are colloquially known as “government masks”.
Under the facemask purchase scheme, each local resident, non-resident worker and non-local student enrolled in Macau’s higher education institutions are entitled to buy 30 facemasks at the fixed price of 24 patacas every 30 days at designated outlets upon presentation of their original Macau ID card, work permit or student card.
Under the 30-day scheme, parents or legal guardians are entitled to buy 30 facemasks for each child aged between three and eight. With their children’s ID card, they can also choose to buy 30 adult facemasks.
There will be 72 outlets for the upcoming round of the scheme which runs until July 25, comprising 56 designated pharmacies and 16 community association venues.
According to the press conference, 208 million facemasks have been sold under the government’s facemask purchase scheme since its launch in January last year.
Urging public to report travel history truthfully
Meanwhile, during yesterday’s press conference Leong again urged residents to report their travel history and state of health on their Macau Health Code truthfully when entering Macau. Leong made the remarks when mentioning a case announced by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre on Wednesday night, according to which a local resident – whose gender was not identified – failed to report on his or her Macau Health Code that he or she had been to Guangzhou’s Yuexiu district within the past 14 days when returning to Macau via the Hengqin checkpoint earlier that day. Early this month, the Macau government imposed its 14-day hotel quarantine on those who have been to Haizhu, Liwan, Nansha, Panyu or Yuexiu districts in Guangzhou, and Chancheng or Nanhai districts in Foshan, within the past 14 days.
According to Wednesday night’s statement, the Health Bureau was tipped off earlier that day, according to which a Macau resident was suspected of having failed to report that he or she had been to Guangzhou’s Yuexiu district when returning to Macau as he or she received medical treatment in Yuexiu between June 2 and 11 but his or her Macau Health Code was indicating green.
Wednesday night’s statement noted that according to Article 10 and Article 30 of the Law on the Prevention, Control and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, all those entering Macau must report their state of health and travel history truthfully, otherwise they will face a prison term of up to six months or a fine.
Falsely show other’s health code
Meanwhile, the Public Prosecution Office (MP) announced in a statement yesterday that a non-resident worker presented the Macau Health Code of another person when entering Macau in an attempt to evade COVID-19 measures.
According to the MP statement, the Health Bureau discovered the case recently and transferred it to the Public Prosecution Office.
According to the statement, the non-resident worker recently was not supposed to enter Macau as his or her nucleic acid test (NAT) certificate was no longer valid. However, the non-resident worker later asked someone to send him or her the screenshot of that person’s Macau Health Code and then showed it to health officials when entering Macau. However, this was discovered by the health officials.
The MP statement noted that according to Article 30 of the Law on the Prevention, Control and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the suspect faces a prison term of up to six months or a fine. The case will be transferred to the courts for trial, the statement said.
Tai Wai Hou (right), one of the three clinical directors of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, speaks during yesterday’s press conference about the city’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, as Health Bureau (SSM) Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Department Coordinator Leong Iek Hou looks on. Photo: Tony Wong
