The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) stressed in a statement yesterday that fresh and live food supplied to Macau have been unaffected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic prevention work, insisting that the city’s food supply is “abundant”.
According to the statement, the fresh and live food supplied to the city arrived via the Barrier Gate checkpoint, underwent inspection and tests and was supplied to local markets “as usual” yesterday.
Macau was hit by an outbreak of locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, as of last night standing at 31 new cases.
The bureau has coordinated and maintained close communication with food suppliers in the city to “safeguard the quality, safety and stable supply of agricultural products such as vegetables and meat and fresh and live food”, the statement noted.
The statement pointed out that Macau having entered a state of immediate prevention early yesterday, Nam Yue (Group) Co. Ltd. and Nam Kwong (Group) Company Limited have increased the amount of fresh and live food supplied to the city. The bureau has also contacted both suppliers to ensure that the transportation of the fresh and live food supplied is unaffected, stable and abundant “to maintain a stable life” for the public.
The statement underlined that around 242 tonnes of vegetables, about 130 tonnes of fruit, about 632,000 eggs, as well as around 340 live pigs are supplied to the city daily, with the food supplied being normal and unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
General public service points closed until tomorrow, markets & cemeteries stay open
Meanwhile, in a separate statement yesterday, the bureau noted that its general public service points will be closed until tomorrow, while self-service areas, municipal wet markets and cemeteries will remain open to the public.
The statement added that “IAM Connect” and the Civic Service Hotline (2833 7676) will also remain in service, while cleaning, disinfection and inspections of public places and facilities will continue.
According to the statement, the bureau will also continue services including “sanitary inspections of food, live animals, and retail dog and cat food items” to stabilise food supply and sanitary inspection services. Sanitary inspection applications for live animals and retail dog and cat food items must call 6686 3001 to book the service at least one day in advance, the statement said.
The Import licence/declaration and advance booking for sanitary inspection (food products) processing service locations will be temporarily moved to the ground floor of the Rotunda de Carlos da Maia Complex, the statement said, urging importers to “pay attention to the measure”
According to the statement, the processing time will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Enquiries can be made by calling 2852 6943.
Moreover, the bureau will contact those who have scheduled appointments for today and tomorrow at the Macau Government Services Centre in Areia Preta, the Macau Government Services Centre for Taipa and Coloane, and the IAM public services centres of various districts for rescheduling, the statement noted.
The Macau Municipal Kennel and the Coloane Municipal Kennel are also closed, with basic services booked suspended and only emergency services provided.
Having enhanced inspections of businesses that are licensed and supervised by the bureau, the statement urged the licencees to follow the Health Bureau’s (SSM) pandemic prevention guidelines.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday shows the supply of fresh food at a local market.
The meat section of a supermarket is empty after everything is sold out yesterday. Photo: MPDG
