Philippine nationals have accounted for 24.5 percent of the COVID-19 cases detected in Macau in the past two weeks, the Health Bureau's Communicable Disease Prevention and Division Chief Leong Iek Hou said today.
Leong announced the figure during this afternoon's daily press conference by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre about the COVID-19 situation in Macau.
Leong said that this was the reason why the government ordered all Philippine nationals in Macau to undergo nucleic acid tests (NATs) every day, starting today. However, she was quick to add that the measure would be reassessed by the Health Bureau on Sunday when it would decide whether to keep Philippine nationals among Macau's various key groups undergoing mandatory daily NATs, such as taxi drivers and cleaners.
Leong also said that since the first case of Macau's current COVID-19 outbreak was detected on June 18, 171 Filipinos have been diagnosed with the disease, or 9.5 percent of the total.
Leong vehemently denied claims by some local media that the compulsory testing of a certain nationalities in Macau amounted to discrimination. She insisted the aim was to detect hidden transmission chains and to prevent deaths and serious cases. She also pointed out that other nationalities in Macau such as Vietnamese have previously been ordered to undergo mandatory tests because of specific risk factors.
According to the Philippine Consulate-General, about 30,000 Philippine nationals live and work in Macau. Filipinos account for about 4.5 percent of the Macau's population of 680,000.
The consulate urged its fellow citizens last night in a statement in Tagalog to participate in the mandatory testing drive and not to politicise something that was a mere health issue. It praised the local government for its ongoing fight against the novel coronavirus.
Leong also underlined that employees in general are required to undergo NATs every other day next week.
The centre announced this morning that for the first time since the the current outbreak over a month ago no COVID-19 case was detected in the community yesterday.
Macau will enter its so-called "consolidation period" at 00:00 tomorrow in fighting the current outbreak. While casinos and many other businesses such as shops will reopen tomorrow, entertainment businesses such as nightclubs and karaoke bars will remain closed. Hair salons will also reopen today. However, the government is urging people to leave home only when "necessary" such as shopping. The city's 16 dog parks will also reopen tomorrow.
Since confirming its first COVID-19 case in January 2020, Macau has recorded 781 confirmed and 1,347 asymptomatic cases, including six fatalities, all of them senior citizens suffering from chronic disease who died during the current Omicron BA.5.1 outbreak.
