Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination announced yesterday that three more arrivals from Hong Kong have tested positive for COVID-19, one of whom has meanwhile been diagnosed with pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus after coming down with COVID-19 symptoms, which raised Macau’s novel coronavirus tally to 80.
The other two cases have been classified as asymptomatic. All the three cases have been classified as imported from Hong Kong.
Since December last year, the Macau government has separately classified and announced asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The centre identified the latest confirmed COVID-19 patient – Macau’s 80th novel coronavirus case, as a 58-year-old local man who received his first and second Sinopharm inactivated jab in Macau in June and July respectively, before receiving a Sinopharm booster jab here last month.
According to a statement by the centre, the man travelled from Hong Kong to Macau on a shuttle bus (aka Golden Bus) via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) on Saturday, and tested negative for the novel coronavirus upon arrival here, after which he was transferred to Pousada Marina Infante – one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” for medical observation. He still tested negative for COVID-19 in a follow-up test on Sunday. However, according to the statement, he tested positive for the novel coronavirus in a follow-up test on Monday night.
The man, who has come down with symptoms of cough and reduced sense of taste, has been transferred to the Health Bureau’s (SSM) Public Health Clinical Centre in Coloane for isolation treatment.
The statement identified one of the two asymptomatic COVID-19 patients as a 49-year-old local woman who received her first and second Sinopharm jab in Macau in February and March last year respectively, before receiving an mRNA booster jab in November – “mixing and matching” her jabs.
According to the statement, the woman travelled to Macau on a Golden Bus on Monday, and tested positive for the novel coronavirus upon arrival here, because of which she has been transferred to the Public Health Clinical Centre for isolation treatment.
The centre announced the other asymptomatic COVID-19 case in another statement last night, a 30-year-old Hong Kong woman who had only received one shot of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, earlier this month.
According to last night’s statement, the woman travelled to Macau on a Golden Bus on Sunday, and tested negative for the novel coronavirus upon arrival here, after which she was transferred to Regency Art Hotel – one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” – for medical observation. She still tested negative for COVID-19 in a follow-up test on Monday. However, according to the statement, she tested positive for the novel coronavirus in a follow-up test last night.
The woman has been transferred to the Public Health Clinical Centre for isolation treatment.
Since Monday all those aged 12 or over departing for Macau from Hong Kong and Taiwan have to present a certificate confirming that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior – i.e., having developed basic full immunity, or a doctor’s certificate confirming that they are unable to be inoculated against the novel coronavirus. The travellers must present the required certificate when boarding a Golden Bus from Hong Kong to Macau, or boarding a flight from Taiwan. Their last required shot of a novel coronavirus vaccine must have been administered within seven months prior to departing for Macau.
Macau has been constantly seeing COVID-19 positive cases imported from Hong Kong since early last week. Consequently, the Macau government has warned, the risk of the occurrence of COVID-19 community transmissions in Macau has now been constantly increasing.
HK arrivals to stay at Treasure Hotel only
Meanwhile, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced in a statement yesterday that from Friday all those arriving from Hong Kong will only be transferred to Treasure Hotel – a special quarantine hotel currently earmarked for those arriving from foreign countries.
The statement said that bookings for a guestroom at all other quarantine hotels by those who will depart for Macau from Hong Kong from Friday have meanwhile been cancelled, because of which, the statement said, the affected travellers will have to book a guestroom again, at Treasure Hotel.
Since November last year, all those departing for Macau who are required to undergo hotel quarantine upon arrival here must make a prior booking for a guestroom before travelling to Macau.
Macau’s quarantine hotels currently comprise three types, namely 1) special hotels, 2) designated hotels, and 3) hotels of the respective arrivals’ choice (aka self-selected hotels).
Currently, Macau has one special quarantine hotel – Treasure Hotel opposite the airport.
Currently, those arriving from all other COVID-19-affected areas, namely Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as areas in the mainland that are affected by local COVID-19 cases, can choose between designated hotels or self-selected hotels for their medical observation. Currently, Macau has a designated hotel – Pousada Marina Infante, and two self-selected hotels – Regency Art Hotel and Grand Coloane Resort.
Meanwhile, Guangdong reported a total of 20 imported COVID-19 cases from Hong Kong on Monday. In addition, 21 COVID-19 asymptomatic cases imported from Hong Kong were also reported in the province on Monday.
Residents queue to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus in Jordan in Hong Kong yesterday amid the city’s current COVID-19 outbreak. Photo: Xinhua
