A total of 716,251 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Macau since Tuesday, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced this morning.
According to a statement by the centre, as of 10 a.m. today 614,465 had taken part in the government' Citywide Nucleic Acid Testing Programme, which began at 9 a.m. on Wednesday and ended at 9 a.m. today.
The statement noted that as of 10 a.m. today a total of 425,156 tests results had been confirmed. All of them were negative.
The centre pointed out that as of 10 a.m. today 101,786 people had opted for self-arranged testing outside the government's Citywide Acid Testing Programme. The total number of people who underwent nucleic acid tests stood at 716,251 people at 10 a.m. today, the centre said.
The free mass testing campaign was carried out at 42 sites such as schools and resorts.
Reprieve to stragglers until 9 p.m.
However, the centre announced this afternoon that stragglers who missed the free testing campaign's 9 a.m. deadline this morning can still get tested for COVID-19 until 9 p.m. tonight at the city's five regular testing sites. However, they have to pay for the tests the regular fee of 80 patacas (US$10). Those who fail to get tested will have their Macau Health Codes turn yellow, which entails a string of restrictions such as crossing Macau's border checkpoints, taking public transport and entering certain premises.
According to the latest available official statistics, Macau's population stood at 682,500 at the end of the first quarter of this year.
Routine nucleic acid testing, for cross-border commuters in particular, will continue as usual.
The government launched the citywide testing drive, Macau's first, after a Delta variant family cluster had been confirmed early this week.
The four-member local family - two schoolchildren and their parents, a Health Bureau driver and fruit stall seller - are undergoing treatment at an isolation ward. They are in stable condition, the Health Bureau said yesterday.
At the start of the mass testing programme the government had urged "everyone" in Macau to be tested for COVID-19.
Macau's novel coronavirus tally stood at 63 this morning. No COVID-19 fatality has been reported in Macau, which confirmed its first case of the disease on January 22 last year.
