Macau will ease its COVID-19 prevention and control restrictions from 00:00 tomorrow, including the reopening of shopping centres, public parks, sitting-out areas and hiking trails.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng announced the measures in an executive order published in the Official Gazette (BO) this morning.
Initially, the measures will be in force during the government's extended consolidation period in it ongoing fight against COVID-19 from tomorrow through Monday.
According to the measures, residents will no longer be required to wear KN95 masks but can wear surgical masks instead. Some residents have complained about the "uncomfortable" KN95 masks, but the government says that they provide better protection from the novel coronavirus, during an acute breakout of the disease in particular.
Restaurants will continue to be barred from providing dine-in services but, as before, can sell takeaways.
Ho's executive order urges residents to stay at home unless they need to go out for "urgent or necessary" matters.
Department stores and malls can reopen but must follow the government's anti-epidemic guidelines.
Entertainment businesses other than casinos remain closed, including cinemas, snooker halls, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, discos, karaoke bars, lounges and bars, saunas, massage parlours, and public swimming pools.
The government has said that after the extended consolidation period it plans to launch a stabilisation period in its ongoing fight against COVID-19. The stabilisation period would include the continuation of free nucleic acid tests (NATs) for the population.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) announced this morning the reopening of public parks, leisure areas and hiking trails from tomorrow. However, children's playgrounds will remain closed.
According to a statement by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre, only two new COVID-19 cases were discovered yesterday. Both were found in quarantine hotels.
The total number of cases since the current outbreak, the first case of which was confirmed on June 18, has reached 1,821.
