As of 9 a.m. today, Macau's tally from its current COVID-19 outbreak stood at 65, up by 16 from yesterday, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre has announced.
According to a statement by the centre, the 65 positive cases comprised 24 confirmed ones and 41 asymptomatic ones. The 65 patients comprised 20 males and 45 females (69.2 percent of the total number of cases), aged between eight months and 89 years.
The centre also said that as of 9 a.m. today there were 2,965 "persons in follow up", including 437 close contacts.
The first case of the current outbreak was confirmed by the Health Bureau (SSM) on Saturday night, after which the local government imposed a "state of immediate prevention" on the special administrative region early Sunday. A mass testing drive began at 12 p.m. on Sunday.
Macau's 48-hour free but mandatory mass testing for all ended at noon yesterday when all temporary testing stations were closed. However, the city's seven community testing stations will continue to operate, the centre said.
The centre said in separate statement that all those who did not join the free testing drive between 12 p.m. on Sunday and 12 p.m. yesterday will need to take the test at their own expense.
The centre reminded the public that the police will send those who failed to get tested to a designated testing station where they will have to remain until the test result comes out negative. Those who test positive will be sent to a quarantine facility for treatment. Those who refuse to be tested must undergo medical observation at a quarantine facility for 14 days.
As of 3 p.m. today, Macau's total tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases since January 2020 stood at 98, while there were 231 asymptomatic cases.
Macau confirmed its first novel coronavirus case on January 22, 2020. No COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Macau.
Meanwhile, Macau's first round of self-testing (rapid antigen tests) is being held for everyone today.
Besides, residents of certain key areas and key groups of people are undergoing a second mandatory nucleic acid testing drive today.
