One more arrival from Hong Kong has tested positive for COVID-19, Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced yesterday.
The centre has classified the case as imported and asymptomatic, because of which it has not been added to Macau’s novel coronavirus tally, which therefore remains at 82.
A statement by the centre identified the patient as a 34-year-old local woman who received three COVID-19 mRNA shots, in June, July and last month respectively.
The woman travelled from Hong Kong to Macau on a shuttle bus (aka Golden Bus) via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) on Monday. She underwent a COVID-19 test upon arrival here, but it came up with an uncertain result. However, according to the statement, she tested positive for the novel coronavirus in a follow-up test yesterday.
The woman has been transferred to the Health Bureau’s (SSM) Public Health Clinical Centre in Coloane for isolation.
“After considering the woman’s epidemiological history, clinical conditions and [COVID-19] test results, her condition has been classified as an imported and asymptomatic case,” the statement said.
In addition to the total of 82 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the centre pointed out yesterday that Macau has now reported a total of 63 asymptomatic COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.
Jab rate of 83.8 pct
Meanwhile, Macau’s COVID-19 vaccination rate reached 83.84 percent yesterday, i.e., around 84 percent of the population had received at least one jab, according to the latest official statistic.
According to the website of the Health Bureau’s COVID-19 vaccination programme, as of 4 p.m. yesterday 572,819 people had been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus (receiving at least one jab), comprising 68,156 who had only received their first jab, 337,247 who had received their second jab, and 167,416 who had received their third jab.
Rapid test kits
Meanwhile, the Macau Health Bureau announced last week that it has bought a large number of COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits, which are used in addition to nucleic acid tests (NATs).
The Health Bureau has provided free-of-charge COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits for “key” groups of people working in certain occupations who are covered by its regular COVID-19 nucleic acid testing programme.
According to the bureau’s announcement last week, those working in “key” occupations that are potentially subject to a higher COVID-19 risk can test themselves for the novel coronavirus using the rapid antigen test kits between their two regular nucleic acid tests, such as health workers, prison guards, and those working in social service residential facilities, as well as those who come into contact with goods, parcels or letters from outside Macau, such as supermarket staff, courier service staff, those working for online-shopping parcel pick-up points, and those working in the frozen food sector.
Those working in “key” occupations are currently required to undergo a free COVID-19 nucleic acid test every seven days, or even shorter, depending on their occupations.
The bureau said last week that the government would provide COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits for residents in general in case Macau is hit by a serious COVID-19 outbreak. In that case residents could test themselves for the novel coronavirus using the kits at home or their workplace. The results of rapid tests are normally available in 15 minutes. This arrangement would enable a lower level of movement of people in the community, the bureau pointed out.
The Health Bureau underlined that rapid antigen tests are merely supplementary tools to nucleic acid tests, meaning that rapid tests cannot replace nucleic acid tests. The bureau noted that rapid antigen tests have a lower level of sensitivity (true positive rate) and specificity (true negative rate).
According to its website, the Macau Pharmaceutical Supervision and Administration Bureau (ISAF) has authorised the importation of 25 types of COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits into Macau. The 25 products are manufactured in the mainland, as well as France, Germany, South Korea, and the United States.
Currently, residents, if necessary, can buy COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits in the market, such as from pharmacies.
Residents wait to receivie a Sinovac inactivated jab in a COVID-19 vaccination facility in Hong Kong earlier this month.
Photo: Xinhua
