The validity of the negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test (NAT) result for those entering Macau from Guangdong has been raised back to 48 hours from just 24 hours, which took effect at 00:00 today.
The measure was announced by Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre in a statement yesterday.
The validity of the negative NAT result for those entering Macau from Zhuhai was shortened to just 24 hours from 48 hours about a month ago, after the detection of new local COVID-19 cases in the neighbouring city at that time.
Following the service suspension in late February, the ferry services between Macau and Shenzhen resumed earlier this month, because of which currently those from Guangdong can enter Macau via the Macau-Zhuhai border checkpoints or via the Macau-Shenzhen ferry services.
In addition to the land border checkpoints, those travelling between Macau and Zhuhai currently can also use the ferry route between the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal and Wanzai.
Zhuhai’s latest local COVID-19 case was reported early this month.
However, the provincial capital of Guangzhou started to report new local COVID-19 cases about two weeks ago.
Yesterday’s statement said that the Macau government has decided to raise the NAT validity for those entering Macau from Guangdong back to 48 hours after considering “neighbouring regions’ latest COVID-19 developments”.
Yesterday’s statement also noted that non-Macau residents failing to present a valid NAT certificate will be refused entry, while Macau residents failing to display such a certificate must immediately undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.
The statement also noted that the validity of the negative NAT result for those entering Guangdong from Macau will remain unchanged at seven days.
The Macau Health Bureau (SSM) said earlier this month that it would need to “dynamically” assess the latest overall COVID-19 developments in the mainland as a whole before deciding whether the NAT validity for those entering Macau from Zhuhai could be further raised back to seven days, rather than only considering Zhuhai’s latest COVID-19 developments.
The statement again urged residents to adhere to the practice of wearing a facemask. Those commuting between Macau and Zhuhai should always only travel between their homes, workplaces, and NAT stations, without unnecessarily visiting other venues, and they should also avoid visiting any venues which many people are using, the statement said.
Singaporean national has asymptomatic COVID-19, raising cases to 87
Meanwhile, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre also announced yesterday that a Singaporean man who entered Macau on Saturday has tested positive for COVID-19.
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.
The case has, however, raised Macau’s asymptomatic COVID-19 tally to 87.
A spokesperson for the Health Bureau told The Macau Post Daily yesterday that in the public interest, the bureau has exempted the Singaporean national from the Macau government’s current entry ban on foreign nationals without a Macau ID card.
Technician ‘urgently needed’ for power stations
The spokesperson said that the Singaporean man is a technician “urgently needed” for the maintenance and repairs of Macau’s power stations.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign nationals without a Macau ID card have, in general, been barred from entering Macau since March 2020, regardless of whether they are willing to undergo hotel quarantine. Exceptions to the entry ban have been granted for just a few special cases only.
The spokesperson pointed out that in the public interest, namely for the prevention, control and treatment of diseases, aid and emergency measures, and ensuring Macau’s normal operation and the provision of daily necessities for residents, the Health Bureau can grant foreigners exemptions from its current entry ban.
According to a statement by the centre yesterday, the patient is a 41-year-old who has received three mRNA jabs. He tested negative for COVID-19 in three nucleic acid tests (NATs) in Singapore, on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday last week, before flying to Macau on Saturday.
The man tested negative for the novel coronavirus upon arrival at the local airport, after which he was transferred to a quarantine hotel for medical observation. He still tested negative for COVID-19 in a follow-up test on Sunday, before testing positive in a follow-up test on Monday.
The man has meanwhile been transferred from the quarantine hotel to the Health Bureau’s Public Health Clinical Centre in Coloane for isolation.
Travellers enter the Barrier Gate border checkpoint on Friday. Photo courtesy of TDM
