The Macau government announced yesterday that it will further relax its entry restrictions on all foreign non-resident workers (NRWs).
The new measures announced yesterday will include one that will allow foreign NRWs to apply to enter Macau from the Taiwan region or foreign countries, and one that will allow them to enter Macau from the mainland without having to apply for entry beforehand.
Leong Iek Hou, who heads the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Division of the Health Bureau (SSM), announced the relaxations during yesterday’s regular press conference by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre.
Currently, foreign NRWs can apply to enter Macau from the mainland or Hong Kong.
Since last week, foreign domestic helpers of any nationality have been able to apply to enter Macau.
During yesterday’s press conference, Leong said that the Macau government has decided to roll out the relaxations after considering the needs of Macau’s civil society and assessing the city’s COVID-19 situation.
According to Leong, the relaxations announced yesterday will cover three groups of non-resident foreigners, namely 1) NRWs (informally known as “blue-card” holders) or those who have obtained an entry permit to work in Macau as a non-resident worker; 2) those who have obtained a permit to work as a professional NRW issued by the Macau Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL); and 3) professional NRWs’ family members who have obtained a special permit to stay in Macau.
According to Leong, the three groups of non-resident foreigners can enter Macau directly from the mainland from Monday, without the need to apply to the Macau Health Bureau (SSM).
Those in either the first or second group who are staying in Hong Kong, Taiwan or foreign countries can enter Macau after their respective employers submit an application to the Health Bureau, while for the third group of beneficiaries, the applications will have to be submitted by the professional NRWs, Leong said.
There will be no limitations on the number of places available for the applications, i.e., there will be no quota limitation, Leong said.
According to Leong, the application period will start on June 24, and the Health Bureau will announce details about the applications next Friday.
Like all other arrivals from Hong Kong, Taiwan or foreign countries, non-resident foreigners benefiting from the new relaxations will also be subject to the Macau government’s current requirement of 14 days hotel quarantine plus seven days of self-health monitoring or management upon their arrival here.
Like all other arrivals from Hong Kong, Taiwan or foreign countries, non-resident foreigners benefiting from the new relaxations – except the respective family members aged below 12 – must have been fully inoculated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior, i.e., having developed basic full immunity.
The Macau government’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements for those departing for Macau from Hong Kong, Taiwan or foreign countries apply to those aged 12 or over.
When submitting an application, Leong said, the respective employers must promise that in case their NRW who has completed his or her hotel quarantine is unable to pay the quarantine hotel fee, they will pay the fees for them. The respective employers must also promise that in case their non-resident worker who has undergone isolation treatment after testing positive for COVID-19 following their arrival here is unable to pay their medical bill, they will pay it for them, Leong said.
Mong Ha vaccination facility to close starting Monday
Meanwhile, Leong also announced that the COVID-19 vaccination facility on the ground floor of the Mong Ha Sports Centre will close from Monday, reducing the number of regular COVID-19 inoculation facilities from 18 to 17.
Leong said that currently less than 100 people get vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Mong Ha vaccination facility per day, and many places are available at other inoculation facilities every day, as Macau’s COVID-19 vaccination rate has now reached a very high level, which, according to the Health Bureau’s statistics, stood at 89.42 percent at 4 p.m. yesterday.
Consequently, Leong said, the Health Bureau has decided to close the Mong Ha vaccination facility with the aim of making a more reasonable use of its human resources.
According to Leong, the area now used for COVID-19 vaccinations at the Mong Ha Sports Centre will be returned to the Sports Bureau (ID).
The Health Bureau has been operating the Mong Ha vaccination facility in collaboration with the private Kiang Wu Hospital.
According to Leong, Kiang Wu Hospital will inform those who have booked a COVID-19 jab at the Mong Ha vaccination facility for Monday next week or after about the new schedule and venue for their inoculations.
The Mong Ha facility is used for the administration of the Sinopharm inactivated vaccine only.
The Kiang Wu Hospital runs a COVID-19 vaccination facility on its premises, also only for Sinopharm inoculations.
Still studying ‘10+7’
Meanwhile, Leong also revealed more information concerning Macau’s possible implementation of 10 days of hotel quarantine plus a seven-day post-quarantine period.
Leong’s remarks came after Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng told reporters on Monday that the local government will request the National Health Commission’s (NHC) permission for Macau to implement 10 days of hotel quarantine plus a seven-day post-quarantine period for arrivals from countries and regions affected by COVID-19.
Currently those who have completed their 14-day hotel quarantine after arriving in Macau from a foreign country or Taiwan must practise seven days of self-health management, during which their Macau Health Code colour indicates Yellow, which bars them from entering certain premises and facilities, using public transport, and entering the mainland from Macau.
Compared to arrivals from foreign countries or Taiwan, those who have completed their 14-day hotel quarantine after arriving in Macau from Hong Kong are currently subject to less strict post-quarantine measures, namely seven days of self-health monitoring, during which they have a green Macau Health Code but are still barred from entering the mainland from Macau.
In general, currently those arriving in the mainland from countries and regions affected by COVID-19 must undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine plus a seven-day post-quarantine period. However, the central government launched a pilot scheme earlier this year which chose a number of cities to implement only 10 days of hotel quarantine plus a seven-day post-quarantine period for arrivals from COVID-19-affected countries and regions.
During yesterday’s press conference, Leong noted that the seven-day post-hotel-quarantine measures are different in various cities in the mainland. While in some cities those who have completed their 14-day hotel quarantine need to undergo home isolation during the seven-day post-hotel-quarantine period, in some other cities individuals need to undergo seven days of home health monitoring.
In addition, Leong said, even the way of the implementation of home health monitoring can be different across mainland cities.
Consequently, Leong said, the Macau Health Bureau is now studying the various versions of a seven-day post-quarantine period across the mainland, before coming up with a version of a “10+7” model for Macau.
The Health Bureau will come up with Macau’s version for a “10+7” model that can meet the city’s COVID-19 prevention needs while also reducing its impact on residents returning to Macau, Leong said.
Ho also said on Monday that he did not rule out the possibility of Macau being able to even implement a “7+7” model, i.e., seven days of hotel quarantine plus a seven-day post-quarantine period.
Leong said yesterday that the Macau government would implement a “10+7” model first – if obtaining permission from the central government, adding that the local government would only study whether Macau could implement a “7+7” model after gaining its own experience from the possible implementation of the “10+7” model.
Meanwhile, Leong also reaffirmed that if quarantine-free travel arrangements are implemented between the mainland and Hong Kong, Macau would be “very likely” to also roll out the same arrangements for arrivals from Hong Kong.
Leong Iek Hou, who heads the Health Bureau’s (SSM) Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Division, addresses yesterday’s press conference about the city’s COVID-19 situation. Photo: Tony Wong
