Macau's current COVID-19 outbreak, which began on June 18, has risen by 128 cases to 1,215, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre has announced this afternoon.
According to a statement by the centre, the 128 cases were diagnosed between 00.00 and 23:59 yesterday.
Macau's tally of confirmed and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases since January 2020 has reached 512 confirmed and 886 asymptomatic cases respectively, according to the website of the Health Bureau (SSM) as of 3:30 p.m. today. A total of 83 of the confirmed cases and 222 of the asymptomatic cases have been cured, the bureau said.
Two COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Macau since the start of the pandemic. The female victims, aged 100 and 94 respectively, died on Sunday. Both had lived in the same nursing home.
Macau launched three more citywide mandatory nucleic acid tests (NATs) on Monday. The tests will be conducted until Saturday 6 p.m. Each person in Macau aged 3 or over must undergo the tests every other day this week. People must also self-test once a day.
The government has distributed free rapid antigen test (RAT) kits (self-tests) among the population, the results of which are to be sent to an app of the Health Bureau (SSM) for verification.
Macau reported its first novel coronavirus case on January 22, 2020.
The Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) has been closely coordinating its anti-COVID-19 measures with the National Health Commission (NHC) in Beijing. Macau follows the mainland's dynamic zero-COVID policy that is focused on preventing fatalities and serious cases.
A team of 650 health workers from the mainland is assisting the local authorities in battling the current outbreak.
While restaurants have been barred from dine-in services since the outbreak, they are allowed to sell takeaways. Many restaurants have reported brisk takeaway sales.
All entertainment and recreation venues other than casinos remain closed.
The government has extended its "state of immediate prevention". The state enables the government to impose a mandatory COVID-19 prevention and control measures and restrictions during the current outbreak.
Meanwhile, Macau's banks reopened on Monday. However, their opening hours have been shortened, temporarily only operating from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They had been closed for a fortnight.
The government has urged people to always wear a KN95 mask when going out or at their workplace. Health workers have been distributing free KN95 masks to testees.
