The Macau government announced yesterday that from tomorrow those who have been infected with COVID-19 within two months will only be allowed to board any transport travelling to Macau at least 14 days after having tested negative for COVID-19 in three consecutive tests which must be carried out at least 24 hours apart.
The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced the new measure, which will take effect at 00:00 tomorrow, in a statement last night.
According to the statement, the travellers can undergo the three required COVID-19 tests in either nucleic acid tests (NAT) or antigen tests.
Last night’s statement pointed out that in addition to the new measure that will take effect tomorrow, all travellers boarding any Macau-bound transport will continue to be subject to the Macau government’s current various COVID-19 NAT and vaccination requirements.
Last night’s statement said that with tomorrow’s commencement of the implementation of the new measure for those who have been infected with COVID-19 within two months and intend to travel to Macau, the Macau government will then cancel its current measure for those intending to travel to Macau who had previously been infected with COVID-19.
Last night’s statement noted that according to the current measure, which started on October 25 last year and is still valid today, those who had previously been infected with COVID-19 are only allowed to board a Macau-bound plane at least two months after the onset of the novel coronavirus disease or after having their first COVID-19 test with a positive result. In addition, according to the current measure that will be cancelled tomorrow, the air passengers must present a certificate issued by medical institutions at the place from where they depart confirming that they have fully recovered from the novel coronavirus disease.
Last night’s announcement means that from tomorrow those intending to travel to Macau who were infected with COVID-19 over two months ago will no longer need to present a recovery certificate.
Last night’s statement said that the Macau government has decided to change its measure for those intending to travel to Macau who have recovered from the novel coronavirus disease after considering the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Different to the current measure which is only applicable to air passengers, last night’s statement noted that the new measure will be applicable to those boarding any means of transport, namely a plane and a ferry, as well as a shuttle bus (aka Golden Bus) from Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB).
Govt’s current various COVID-19 NAT & jab requirements
According to the Macau government’s current various COVID-19 NAT requirements for those departing for Macau, all those departing from Hong Kong or Taiwan must present an NAT certificate confirming a negative COVID-19 result valid for 24 hours when boarding a shuttle bus or a flight.
All those departing from any of 22 “extremely high-risk” COVID-19 countries must present an NAT certificate confirming negative COVID-19 results of three consecutive tests carried out within five days prior to their intended departure en route to Macau, and the three tests must each be carried out at least 24 hours apart.
All those departing from other foreign countries must present an NAT certificate confirming a negative COVID-19 result valid for 48 hours prior to boarding their flight.
All those departing for Macau from the mainland by air must present an NAT certificate confirming a negative COVID-19 result valid for seven days when boarding their flight.
The negative COVID-19 NAT result for those entering Macau from Zhuhai is currently valid for 24 hours.
According to the Macau government’s latest version of its COVID-19 vaccination requirements for those departing for Macau, which started yesterday, all those aged 12 or over departing for Macau from a foreign country, Hong Kong or Taiwan must 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 their condition is unsuitable to be inoculated against the novel coronavirus for a period of over two months. Travellers aged 18 or over who received the last required shot of their basic-full-immunity COVID-19 vaccinations over seven months ago will also have to present a certificate confirming that they have received at least one COVID-19 booster jab.
Currently, only those departing for Macau from the mainland are not covered by the Macau government’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination.
A female senior citizen in a wheelchair prepares to receive a COVID-19 jab in a mobile vaccination station outside Cheng Chong Building, a social rental housing in Ilha Verde, on Saturday. The Health Bureau (SSM) launched its mobile COVID-19 inoculation service on Saturday for those with reduced mobility. A vaccination vehicle is providing a three-day service outside Cheng Chong Building from Saturday to today. The bureau has said that it is studying in which location the mobile station will provide vaccination service afterwards. Photo courtesy of TDM
