Starting today, people with residency in or travel history to a foreign country within one month, or were infected with COVID-19 within three months, must undergo a single sample nucleic acid test (NAT), the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre said in a statement yesterday.
According to the statement, a previous history of COVID-19 is more common among people with residency in or travel history to a foreign country, while a certain number of people who recovered from the novel coronavirus have tested “re-positive” repeatedly in NATs.
The statement added that when their samples are tested in mixed samples, “a positive result will be identified”, making it necessary to trace all those sampled in the same positive tube for re-testing. The single sample NAT will reduce these types of situations, the statement noted.
The statement underlined that the single sample test can be conducted at the NAT stations at Kiang Wu Hospital Auditorium, the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) Gymnasium and Qingmao checkpoint, all of which require prior booking. Meanwhile, walk-in services are available at the NAT station in the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre.
The statement underlined that those with residency in a foreign country, travel history to a foreign country, or those who were previously infected with COVID-19 in the Health Bureau’s (SSM) database “will be prompted in the booking system”. Those who do not have a record in the system but have residency in or travel history to a foreign country, or an infection history “must take the initiative to explain their status to the NAT examiner”, the statement said.
