Macau's current COVID-19 outbreak, which began on June 18, has risen by 59 cases to 1,526, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced this morning.
According to a statement by the centre, the 59 cases were diagnosed between 00.00 and 23:59 yesterday. The statement pointed out that 42 of the cases were detected in locked-down ("red zone") areas and quarantine hotels, six are close contacts of previously confirmed cases, seven were detected in the ongoing mandatory nucleic acid testing (NATs) drive and among high-risk key groups, while four were detected among other groups in the community.
On Saturday, the figure was up by 93.
Macau's tally of confirmed and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases accumulated since January 2020 has reached 621 confirmed and 1,164 asymptomatic cases respectively, according to the website of the Health Bureau (SSM) as of 4 p.m. today. A total of 112 of the confirmed cases and 278 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 last Sunday. Both had lived in the same nursing home.
Macau is holding four mandatory citywide NAT rounds from today through Sunday. Generally speaking, each person in Macau aged 3 or over must be tested for COVID-19 at a NAT station every other day. Anyone in Macau - not just residents but also non-resident workers and visitors - must also self-test once a day.
The government has been distributing free rapid antigen test (RAT) kits (self-tests) among the population, the results of which are to be uploaded to an app of the Health Bureau (SSM) for verification. It has also been handing out free KN95 masks at testing stations.
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. The government has announced that more health workers from the mainland are slated to arrive this week.
Meanwhile, most businesses will remain closed by order of Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng this week - including Macau's about three dozen casinos. However, wet markets, supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants selling takeaways, hotels (many of which have become de-facto dormitories for migrant workers during the current outbreak), healthcare facilities and other essential businesses will be allowed to stay open.
Newspaper and other media companies are also permitted to remain open.
According to the executive order, people in Macau are to stay home unless when shopping for daily necessities and other urgent matters such as going to NAT stations for their mandatory tests. They must wear KN95 facemasks when out and about and at their workplace.
Public buses will run on reduced schedules. Bus passengers must hold special permits. The airport will remain open.
All entertainment and recreation venues have been closed by government order since shortly after the current outbreak's first case had been detected on June 18. However, casinos had been allowed to stay open. All casinos were closed at 00:00 last night.
The government has insisted that this week's curbs – the most severe since the pandemic has affected Macau – are not a lockdown.
Violators of this week's restrictions face up to two years behind bars or a hefty fine, Secretary for Administration and Justice Andre Cheong Weng Chon said yesterday. He also was adamant that the curbs are not recommendations but an executive order that everyone in Macau needs to follow.
There was confusion today whether dogs are allowed to be taken out for a walk to relieve themselves.
