Macau announced today a mandatory "high-frequency" nucleic acid testing (NAT) drive for "high-risk" target groups comprising non-resident workers from Nepal and Vietnam, local and non-local renovation and laundry workers, as well as security guards.
The new programme was announced during this afternoon's regular press conference by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre which was held despite the fact the hoisting of Typhoon Signal No. 8.
Officials said that members of the five target groups would be notified by SMS, and their employers must ensure that their staff are given time off to be tested for COVID-19. They are slated to be tested four times, every other day. The tests are free of charge.
Macau's most recent COVID-19 cases include a number of Nepali security guards and Vietnamese renovation workers.
According to the latest available statistics from the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL), Macau had 10,675 Vietnamese and 3,476 Nepali non-resident workers at the end of August.
The officials said the aim of the new targeted testing drive was to identify "hidden risks" among certain segments of the workforce.
Meanwhile, the officials also said that the re-opening of schools would be announced in due course.
The government completed on Thursday the city's third mandatory mass NAT programme. All the results were negative. It was aimed at the whole population.
The officials also revealed that at the time of this afternoon's press conference, 1,145 people were quarantined for medical observation.
Nucleic acid testing has been suspended since the hoisting of the Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 8. this morning.
Macau's COVID-19 tally rose by two to 77 yesterday, a Vietnamese domestic helper and a construction worker from the mainland, according to the centre.
No COVID-19 fatalities have been reported in Macau.
