Macau's current COVID-19 outbreak, which began on June 18, has risen by just four cases to 1,814, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced this morning.
Of the 4 cases, none was found in the community. All the cases were discovered in locked-down ("Red Code Zone") buildings and medical observation quarantine hotels, the centre said in a statement.
According to the statement, the four cases were diagnosed between 00.00 and 11:59 p.m. yesterday.
Macau's tally of confirmed and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases accumulated since January 22, 2020 stands at 785 confirmed and 1,362 asymptomatic cases respectively, according to the website of the Health Bureau (SSM) as of 1:30 p.m. today. A total of 445 of the confirmed cases and 755 of the asymptomatic cases have been cured, the bureau said.
Six COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Macau since the start of the pandemic in January 2020. The six victims - five females and a male - were senior citizens suffering from a range of chronic diseases.
Macau will continue with its mandatory nucleic acid test (NAT) rounds this week. 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. Before going for a nucleic acid test, everyone must first self-test at home to prevent the virus from spreading 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. In general, Macau follows the mainland's dynamic zero-COVID policy that is focused on preventing fatalities and serious cases.
Hundreds of health workers from the mainland are assisting the local authorities in battling the current outbreak driven by the highly infectious OMICRON BA.5.1 subvariant.
The government launched on Saturday a weeklong "consolidation period" in its ongoing fight against COVID-19.
During the consolidation period, casinos and "non-essential businesses" are allowed to reopen for business. However, entertainment businesses other than casinos as well as malls remain closed. Dog owners are again be able to take their furry friends for a walk. Restaurants will continue to be allowed to sell takeaways only.
Casinos reopened on Saturday.
Banks will reopen at noon today. However, strict COVID-19 prevention and control measures remain in place during the consolidation period and people are supposed to leave their homes only for work or other "urgent and necessary" matters, according to an executive order by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng.
The wearing of KN95 facemasks remains mandatory during the consolidation period, which provisionally is slated to last through Friday.
The government's firm measures to tackle the current COVID-19 Omicron BA.5.1 outbreak have been heeded by virtually the entire population, with the exception of a small number of recusants, some of who have been warned, fined and/or sentenced to suspended jail terms.
The government ordered on Saturday all construction site workers to undergo NATs every day from today. Other key groups such as cleaners and security guards are also undergoing daily NATs.
People queue outside a local bank branch earlier today. Banks in Macau reopened at noon today after a two-week government-ordered suspension due to its tightened COVID-19 prevention and control measures. – Photo: MPDG
