Addressing yesterday’s press conference about Macau’s novel coronavirus situation, Tai Wa Hou, a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, said that while the COVID-19 vaccination rate among those aged between 40 and 49 has reached over 70 percent, the highest among different age groups so far, the inoculation rates among senior citizens and teenagers are the lowest, both at around 20 percent.
Tai reaffirmed that inoculating against the novel coronavirus is the only way for residents to return to normality.
Tai noted that “COVID-19 herd immunity for the 40-49 age group has now been [basically] achieved” because of the around 70-percent vaccination rate.
The Health Bureau had previously said that Macau would need to reach a vaccination rate of at least 70 percent of the population in order to achieve COVID-19 herd immunity. However, the bureau said last month that due to the respective efficacy rates of 80 percent and 95 percent of the Sinopharm inactivated vaccine and BioNTech mRNA vaccine (the two types of COVID-19 vaccines currently available in Macau), Macau would need to reach an inoculation rate of at least 80 percent of the population in order to achieve COVID-19 herd immunity.
Tai said that as of 4 p.m. yesterday, 540,087 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered to 297,948 people in Macau, comprising 54,007 who had received their first jab and 243,941 who had received their second jab.
Macau’s COVID-19 vaccination rate stood at 43.7 percent as of 4 p.m. yesterday – i.e. over 40 percent of the population has received at least one jab. According to the latest demographic statistics, Macau’s population stood at 682,500 at the end of June.
A total of 17 adverse events were reported in the past 24 hours (until 4 p.m. yesterday). The total number of adverse events since the start of the vaccination drive stood at 2,284, or 0.42 percent of the total number of jabs, including seven serious cases.
Currently, Sinopharm jabs are administered to those aged 18 or over in Macau, while BioNTech shots are given to those aged 12 or over.
Tai reported Macau’s latest COVID-19 vaccination rates among different age groups during yesterday’s press conference. As of 12 p.m. yesterday, according to Tai, the vaccination rates among different age groups were: 20.43 percent among those aged between 12 and 19, 61.2 percent among those aged from 20 to 29, 65.15 percent among those aged between 30 and 39, 70.34 percent among those aged from 40 to 49, and 48.35 percent among those aged between 50 and 59.
According to Tai, as of 12 p.m. yesterday the COVID-19 vaccination rate among senior citizens stood at 23.19 percent among those aged between 60 and 69, 11.72 percent among those aged from 70 to 79, and 2.5 percent among those aged 80 or over.
Tai reaffirmed that over 10,000 places for COVID-19 vaccinations are available per day at Macau’s 18 inoculation facilities. Tai noted that in addition to places allocated to those who have made a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, walk-in places for inoculations are also sufficiently available at the various vaccination facilities. Tai pointed out that those aged 60 or over can always get their walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations at any inoculation facility – regardless of whether places are still available whenever they arrive at a particular inoculation facility.
Tai said that in the wake of the Delta variant family cluster – which was confirmed early last week, the government believes that residents have now become well aware that Macau is still facing a serious COVID-19 risk, because of which, Tai said, inoculating against COVID-19 is the most effective way for Macau’s fight against the novel coronavirus.
Tai underlined that achieving COVID-19 herd immunity is the prerequisite for residents to return to normal life.
The government launched a three-day mass nucleic acid test (NAT) drive on Wednesday last week after Macau confirmed four COVID-19 cases the day before, a family of four comprising a couple and their two children, a schoolboy and a schoolgirl. All of them were infected with the Delta variant. All of the 614,465 people who took part in last week’s 72-hour citywide NAT drive tested negative for COVID-19.
Family cluster couple visits Public Administration Building
Meanwhile, in a statement last night the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced additional information about the travel history in Macau of the father and mother of the four-member Delta variant family cluster.
According to the statement, the couple went to the head office of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC Macau) at the New Orient Landmark Hotel in Zape between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on July 27.
On July 29, according to the statement, the couple went to three premises, namely the third floor of the Public Administration Building in Rua do Campo between 12:50 p.m. and 1:50 p.m., the nearby Women’s Association Building between 1:54 p.m. and 2:17 p.m., and the head office of ICBC Macau between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
During yesterday evening’s press conference, Health Bureau (SSM) Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Department Coordinator Leong Iek Hou reported the preliminary version of the couple’s additional travel history information. According to Leong, the couple had initially only told the Health Bureau about their visit to the ICBC Macau head office on July 27 after they were confirmed as COVID-19 patients on Tuesday last week.
However, Leong said, after scrutinising its customers’ visit records ICBC Macau has recently informed the Health Bureau that the couple also went to its head office on July 29, because of which, Leong said, the bureau has asked the couple to recall their travel history on that day, during which they remembered that they had also visited the Public Administration Building and the Women’s Association Building – where the Macau Women’s General Association (commonly known as Fu Luen) is headquartered – on July 29.
Last night’s statement urged those who had visited the three premises at the same time as the couple to undergo a walk-in COVID-19 nucleic acid test at the NAT station of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre as soon as possible, without the need to make an appointment.
Refusenik ‘compromises’
Meanwhile, Tai told The Macau Post Daily after yesterday’s press conference that the person who had persistently refused to be tested for COVID-19 despite repeated explanations and persuasive attempts by the authorities has “finally compromised” by undergoing a nucleic acid test. Tai identified the lone refuser as a local man. As the man has now got tested and come up with a negative result, Tai said that he no longer needed to undergo 14-day medical observation at a quarantine facility. The Macau Post Daily reported details about the lone recusant yesterday.
Meanwhile, the centre announced in a statement yesterday afternoon that it had sent an SMS to everyone in Macau urging them to be inoculated against COVID-19.
The SMS reads: “Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre: Given the severe epidemic situation, to protect yourself and your family, please get vaccinated now to establish a community immunity barrier! People ≥ 12 years old that are not fully vaccinated may schedule an appointment via: https://eservice.ssm.gov.mo/covidvacbook.”
During yesterday’s press conference, Tai said that the centre has sent the SMS to everyone in Macau for several reasons. Firstly, Tai said, it aims to remind residents that the government’s COVID-19 vaccinations have been fully resumed after a four-day suspension from Wednesday to Saturday last week due to the citywide NAT drive. Secondly, Tai said that the SMS aims to remind residents that Macau is now facing a higher COVID-19 risk than previously, urging them to be inoculated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. Thirdly, Tai said, the government feels the urgency as residents don’t appear to feel the urgency to get vaccinated against COVID-19 despite the COVID-19 family cluster. “Why don’t residents feel the urgency and do not have the eagerness to be inoculated against COVID-19 after the onset of the latest ongoing COVID-19 epidemic situation?” Tai asked rhetorically.
“Nothing can be done without [COVID-19 vaccinations],” Tai said.
However, Tai reaffirmed that the government will “surely” not force residents to be inoculated against COVID-19 as the government is sticking to its principle that COVID-19 vaccinations should only be administered on a voluntary basis.
During Tuesday’s COVID-19 press conference, Tai reaffirmed that for the time being the government will not consider rolling out any measures that would impose certain restrictions on those who have not been inoculated against COVID-19.
During yesterday’s press conference, Tai said that private institutions have the power to require all those entering their premises to get COVID-19 jabs first – or regularly get tested for COVID-19 alternatively, if they determine that those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 would pose a COVID-19 risk to the safety of other users on the premises.
This file photo shows residents registering for COVID-19 vaccinations at the Mong Ha inoculation facility on June 21, the first day of its operation. Photo: GCS
Tai Wa Hou, one of the three clinical directors of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, addresses yesterday’s press conference about the city’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Photo: Tony Wong
