The Macau government has further shortened its COVID-19 hotel quarantine period for arrivals from the Chinese regions of Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as foreign countries from seven days to five days, which took effect at 00:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Under the new “5+3” arrangement that started on Saturday, which was announced by the Macau Health Bureau (SSM) on Friday, those who have completed their five-day hotel quarantine are then required to undergo three days of isolation at home.
The Macau government announced the new “5+3” arrangement during a press conference by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre on Friday evening, after the central government announced earlier that day its new “5+3” measure (five days of quarantine at government-designated facilities plus three days of home isolation) for arrivals from countries and regions other than Macau, a change from the previous “7+3” measure (seven days of quarantine at government-designated facilities plus three days of home health monitoring).
Before the Macau government convened the press conference in the evening on Friday, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U spoke to reporters earlier that day about the central government’s announcement. Ao Ieong said that she was “glad” to hear of the central government’s announcement of its new “5+3” measure, adding that the Macau government would follow suit. She underlined that the local government will continue to follow the central government’s dynamic zero-COVID policy.
Previously, i.e., before Saturday, the Macau government implemented a “7+3” arrangement for arrivals from countries and regions other than the Chinese mainland, seven days of hotel quarantine followed by three days of “self-health management”. Those who were practising “self-health management” had a yellow Macau Health Code, which meant that they were allowed to leave home but were barred from entering certain premises and facilities in the city, using public transport, and entering the mainland from Macau.
During Friday evening’s press conference, Health Bureau Director Alvis Lo Iek Long announced the Macau government’s decision to adjust its “7+3” to the new “5+3” arrangement for arrivals from Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries following the central government’s announcement earlier that day. However, according to Lo, those who have completed their five-day hotel quarantine after arriving in Macau are then required to undergo three days of isolation at home, during which their Macau Health Code colour will indicate red.
Barred from leaving home during home isolation except for NATs
According to Lo, the respective arrivals are required to undergo a daily nucleic acid test (NAT) during their five-day hotel quarantine. After having their swab collected for a COVID-19 nucleic acid test on the last day of their hotel quarantine, Lo said, they can leave their quarantine hotel, without having to wait for the test result, to return home for three days of isolation.
During their three-day home isolation which carries a red Macau Health Code, Lo said, the arrivals are barred from leaving their home except for going to a sampling station for a nucleic acid test.
According to Lo, the arrivals are required to undergo a daily nucleic acid test during their three-day home isolation period.
After having their swab collected for a nucleic acid test on the last day of their home isolation period, Lo said, the arrivals will have their Macau Health Code turn yellow from red. After the test comes up with a negative result, Lo said, their Macau Health Code will return to green.
Before going to an NAT sampling station for their daily test during their three-day home isolation period, Lo said, they must self-test for COVID-19 with a rapid antigen test (RAT) kit at home and upload their negative RAT result onto the Health Bureau’s platform every time.
Lo said that with the implementation of the new “5+3” measure, 14 out of the city’s several dozen NAT sampling stations have each set up a special channel for those with a red Macau Health Code to undergo a test. Previously, only two NAT sampling stations had a red-code channel.
However, Lo said that while taxi drivers can pick up passengers with a red Macau Health Code, cabbies refusing to pick up such passengers will not be penalised for doing so.
Normally, taxi drivers face a penalty for refusing to pick up passengers.
Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long addresses Friday’s press conference about Macau’s new “5+3” measure for arrivals from outside the mainland. – Photo: GCS
