The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced yesterday new COVID-19 prevention and control measures for workplaces during the so-called consolidation period starting on Saturday, so as to reduce the risk of the novel coronavirus spreading in work premises.
A statement by the centre urged the staff of companies or institutions providing essential public services to the community, shops that provide services considered necessary for people’s daily lives and venues that have been approved by their respective supervising entities to abide by the government’s prevention measures during their operations, such as carrying out rapid antigen tests (RATs – self-tests) before going to work and having their nucleic acid tests (NATs) at designated times, as well as taking precautions to reduce the number of people gathering. The centre also reiterated that workers with suspected symptoms of COVID-19 and those who hold a red Macau Health Code or have not undergone their NATs or carried out their RATs required by the government, should not go to work or enter any premises other than their home.
According to the statement, workers must wear their KN95 facemask, or one with a higher standard, during work and outside their home, adding that they should stagger commuting hours when going to or from work. At the same time, workers are encouraged to go to work on or in their own vehicle, such as their motorbike or car, take a taxi or use other means of transport, rather than travelling by bus to work, the statement noted.
Meanwhile, the centre urged the companies that are not providing services necessary for the functioning of society, or services not deemed necessary for the daily lives of the general public, to thoroughly clean and disinfect the premises before resuming operations, adding that the number of staff should not exceed 50 percent of the usual number of their employees at the same time in their workplace. The centre also urged staff that apart from drinking, meals should be eaten individually in a separate room so as to avoid being with others without a facemask.
The statement underlined that outdoor workers, such as construction workers, are required to have their meals at a distance of more than two metres from each other, while tutorial centres and other private educational institutions can only provide online services for the time being.
Moreover, the centre stressed in the statement that if anyone in the work team or at the workspace has tested positive for COVID-19 in an NAT, the operation of the premises must be suspended. At the same time, the workers must remain where they are, suspend their work and avoid going out until receiving instructions from the authorities. Workers should also wear their facemask properly and wait in different areas based on their risk levels, the statement added.
However, companies that are unable to suspend their operations, such as the facilities that provide daily necessities, must always strictly abide by the government’s COVID-19 prevention measures, including requiring their workers to have their RATs and NATs on a daily basis, so as to reduce the risk of transmission of the novel coronavirus.
This undated file photo shows people standing outside the nucleic acid test (NAT) station at the Patane Activity Centre. Photo: MPDG
