The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said in a statement yesterday that about 3,500 frozen food sector workers will have to undergo a nucleic acid test (NAT) every three days from yesterday.
According to the statement, in order to prevent the novel coronavirus from entering Macau via imported fruit and its packaging, the bureau decided to implement stricter measures to ensure that the fruit and its packaging were completely disinfected and people working in the frozen food sector to have an NAT every three days,
The statement pointed out that initially workers involved in product import, loading, unloading, transportation, storage or retail would only need to have the NAT once a week, but yesterday the bureau implemented the new rule. The statement pointed out that the aim of the new rule is to protect the general public. The bureau also said that it has listened to the workers’ feedback and has discussed with the Health Bureau (SSM) the measure to increase the number of designated NAT stations for the workers.
The statement noted that since last year, the bureau has implemented the complete disinfection of imported fruit packaging. The statement pointed out that, on average, Macau receives around 100,000 boxes of imported fruit and frozen goods weekly, and the bureau regularly tests, on average, 300 samples daily.
Meanwhile, the bureau also said that it has strengthened its imported fruit tracking system to trace the whereabouts of each imported fruit package.
The statement underlined that since the frozen food control measures have been implemented, IAM officials have inspected the airport, wharfs, frozen food storage areas, retail venues and fruit stalls more than 780 times.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday shows frozen food workers handling imported goods.
