The Macau government will shorten its hotel quarantine period for arrivals from Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries from the current 14 days to 10 days, which will take effect on Wednesday.
From Wednesday, those who have completed their 10-day hotel quarantine will have to practise seven days of self-health monitoring, during which they will have a green Macau Health Code, but will be required to undergo five COVID-19 nucleic acid tests (NATs).
However, certain groups of arrivals will still be subject to 14 days hotel quarantine, such as those who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for any reasons, even due to health or age.
The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced the new “10+7” arrangement, which will take effect at 00:00 on Wednesday, in a statement on Saturday.
The statement said that the Macau government’s decision to implement the “10+7” model for arrivals from Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries is justified by the relatively short incubation of the Omicron variant because of which those infected with the variant can normally be detected by COVID-19 nucleic acid tests (NATs) within seven days after their exposure to the virus.
Consequently, according to the statement, the Macau government has decided to implement the “10+7” model after having analysed the mainland authorities’ recent experience in its pilot implementation of the “10+7” model and the local government’s data on COVID-19 positive cases imported into Macau.
Currently, those arriving in Macau from a foreign country, Taiwan or Hong Kong must undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine plus a seven-day post-quarantine period, i.e., a “14+7” model.
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.
Saturday’s statement said that from Wednesday those who meet certain conditions entering Macau from Hong Kong, Taiwan or foreign countries will be subject to the “10+7” COVID-19 measure, i.e., 10 days of hotel quarantine plus seven days of self-health monitoring.
Under the new measure, the statement said, those practising their seven-day post-quarantine self-health monitoring will have a green Macau Health Code, which means that they can commence their normal daily lives in the community after completing their 10-day hotel quarantine.
According to the statement, those practising their seven-day self-health monitoring must undergo five COVID-19 nucleic acid tests, on the first, second, fourth, sixth and last day of the period.
Those failing to undergo any of the five required tests before the required schedule will have their Macau Health Code colour turn yellow from green. Furthermore, the statement said, those who still do not undergo the respective test after 24 hours of the specified date will then have their health code colour even turn red.
Those whose health code colour has become yellow or red due to this reason will only have it return to green after undergoing the required test and provided that it comes up with a negative result.
According to the statement, arrivals from Hong Kong, Taiwan or foreign countries will not be allowed to enter the mainland from Macau until their nucleic acid test conducted on the 14th day of their entry into Macau comes up with a negative COVID-19 result.
However, the statement said, only those who meet three conditions will benefit from only 10 days of hotel quarantine, namely 1) those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to their entry into Macau; 2) those who test negative for COVID-19 in a nucleic acid test upon arrival in Macau and in every test conducted during their hotel quarantine period; and 3) those who agree to comply with all various COVID-19 measures required by the local government.
Normally those vaccinated against COVID-19 require two jabs to develop basic full immunity, i.e., if they receive a two-dose vaccine.
Currently, all those aged 12 or over departing for Macau from Hong Kong, Taiwan or foreign countries 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 renders them 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 must also present a certificate confirming that they have received at least one COVID-19 booster jab.
Saturday’s statement said that those who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for any reason, including those unable to be inoculated due to health reasons or their age, will still have to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine.
In addition, the statement said, those who test positive for COVID-19 in a nucleic acid test upon arrival in Macau or in any of the tests conducted during their hotel quarantine will also be subject to quarantine for at least 14 days. Concerning such cases, Saturday’s statement merely said that the Health Bureau (SSM) will carry out follow-up measures in accordance with their respective actual circumstances.
Currently, those who test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Macau or during their hotel quarantine will be transferred to the Health Bureau’s Public Health Clinical Centre in Coloane for isolation.
The statement also said that the Macau government will also accordingly adjust the hotel quarantine duration required for arrivals from areas affected by COVID-19 in the mainland.
Currently, those arriving from areas affected by COVID-19 in the mainland are in general required to undergo hotel quarantine for a period of between 7 and 14 days.
The Macau government has pointed out that it has been constantly changing its hotel quarantine list of COVID-19-affected areas in the mainland in line with the “frequent” changes in the mainland’s COVID-19 situation.
Details of the new “10+7” arrangement in the English language can be checked at: https://www.ssm.gov.mo/docs/23457/23457_4531d50f320542a2b60f55098b5b0437_000_.pdf, while details of the seven-day self-health monitoring can be checked at: https://www.ssm.gov.mo/docs/23456/23456_6bd15e57ea0d451bb582975cd7dce3a7_000_.pdf.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng told reporters on Monday last week that the local government would 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. Ho said at that time that he expected the “10+7” arrangement to get off the ground during the upcoming summer holiday period.
After Saturday’s announcement of the new “10+7” arrangement, representatives from the local tourism sector have acknowledged that the new measure could help attract more visitors from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
This file photo taken last year from Big Taipa Hill shows the Treasure Hotel (right), one of the city’s quarantine hotels.
Photo: Tony Wong
