Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U has said that the Macau government’s possible quarantine-free travel arrangements for arrivals from Hong Kong will be implemented on a quota system first – i.e., only a certain number of places will be available for online applications benefiting from the Macau government’s exemption from its mandatory quarantine requirement.
According to Ao Ieong, the Macau government’s possible measure to lift quarantine for arrivals from Hong Kong would include a special mechanism to assess applications from those in urgent or special need, such as those seeking or receiving treatment for special diseases or those who need to attend a funeral. Other people without an urgent or special need, according to Ao Ieong, will have to make an application online on a first-come-first-served basis.
Ao Ieong made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the Services Platform Complex for Commercial and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs) in Nam Van on Monday after attending a reception hosted by the local government to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
Ao Ieong reaffirmed that Macau can lift its quarantine requirements for arrivals from Hong Kong once quarantine-free travel arrangements between the mainland and Hong Kong have started.
Currently, those traveling between the mainland and Macau do not need to quarantine upon their arrival on either side, and they are merely required to present a nucleic acid test (NAT) certificate confirming a negative COVID-19 result valid for seven days.
Those from Hong Kong must undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine upon their arrival in the mainland or in Macau.
Currently, Hong Kong residents returning from the mainland or Macau can apply online to be exempted from the Hong Kong government’s quarantine requirement – i.e., Return2hk Scheme. In addition, non-Hong Kong residents coming from Guangdong or Macau can also apply to be exempted from Hong Kong’s quarantine requirement – i.e., Come2hk Scheme.
The Hong Kong government has been working over recent months to ensure that its entry, quarantine and various other COVID-19 measures are carried out in coordination with the mainland, in the hope that mainland authorities lift their mandatory quarantine for arrivals from Hong Kong.
Only fully-jabbed people
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Ao Ieong said that the first phase of the Macau government’s implementation of its quarantine-free travel arrangements for arrivals from Hong Kong would only cover those who have been fully inoculated against COVID-19 – i.e., those who have received their second COVID-19 shot at least 14 days prior, in addition to presenting an NAT certificate confirming a negative COVID-19 result.
According to Ao Ieong, the Macau government would set the number of places available for arrivals from Hong Kong to be exempted from its quarantine requirement proportionately based on the number of quotas to be set for those benefiting from the mainland’s quarantine-free travel arrangements for those arriving from Hong Kong.
Ao Ieong also pledged that the Macau government would gradually increase the number of places available after its quarantine exemption for arrivals from Hong Kong has been implemented for a period of time.
Ao Ieong said that the Macau Health Bureau (SSM) would set up a special mechanism to assess applications from those in urgent or special need, while all others without an urgent or special need would have to make an online application, according to which the allocation of places available for the applicants would be carried out on a first-come-first-served basis, she said.
Ao Ieong also said that similar to quarantine-free travel arrangements between the mainland and Hong Kong, the Macau government’s quarantine exemption for arrivals from Hong Kong would be suspended if Hong Kong has reported new local COVID-19 cases.
Sex harassment nurse suspended
Meanwhile, Ao Ieong also said that the Health Bureau has suspended the male nurse who was arrested last week for the alleged sexual harassment of seven schoolgirls when administering COVID-19 jabs to them at the Macau Forum inoculation facility. The policy secretary also confirmed that the nurse worked in the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre before he was suspended.
Ao Ieong said that the case was an isolated one, urging residents not to disregard the efforts made by Health Bureau staff and all other health workers in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U talks to reporters at the Services Platform Complex for Commercial and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs) on Monday. Photo: GCS
