2 babies with COVID-19 in hospital
The Macau government will further ease its facemask-wearing guidelines tomorrow, according to which public bus and Light Rail Transit (LRT) passengers will only be “recommended” to wear a facemask.
Currently, public bus and LRT passengers are required to wear a facemask.
From tomorrow, however, according to the relaxed guidelines, those entering medical institutions or care homes will still be required to wear a facemask.
The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced the Health Bureau’s (SSM) further easing of facemask-wearing, which will take effect tomorrow, in a statement yesterday.
Following the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the local government first eased its facemask-wearing guidelines at the end of February this year.
The current version of the local government’s facemask-wearing guidelines, which took effect at the end of February, remains valid until 11:59 p.m. today.
Since the end of February, people in Macau have no longer been requested to wear a facemask outdoors nor in public indoor venues in general. However, those entering medical institutions, residential care homes for senior citizens, or rehabilitation care homes have still been required to wear a facemask, except for inpatients and service users living in the care homes.
Since the end of February, public bus drivers and passengers, as well as LRT passengers, have also been required to wear a facemask.
Yesterday’s statement said that after referencing the mainland’s latest guidelines on the prevention and control of COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases as well as the respective guidelines in various countries and regions worldwide, the Macau government has now decided to adjust its facemask-wearing guidelines on the prevention of COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases, which will take effect tomorrow.
While the current facemask-wearing guidelines put special emphasis on COVID-19 prevention, the new guidelines aim to tackle all respiratory infectious diseases.
3 circumstances
According to yesterday’s statement, the new guidelines that take effect tomorrow classify facemask-wearing practices into three circumstances.
Under the first circumstance, everyone “should” wear a facemask, meaning that, according to the statement, all individuals and entities will be “required” to comply with facemask-wearing requirements.
Under the second circumstance, the statement said, everyone will be “recommended” to wear a facemask. According to the statement, the second circumstance means that if the respective entities operating or managing the facilities or venues decide not to require those entering to wear a facemask, their users can make their own decision as to whether to wear a facemask or not.
Under the third circumstance, the statement said, everyone “can choose not to” wear a facemask, meaning that they will not be requested to wear a facemask.
1st circumstance
According to the statement, those who have come down with a fever, muscle pain, sore throat, cough, runny nose, or other flu-like symptoms should wear a facemask. In addition, those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in a rapid antigen test (RAT) or nucleic acid test (NAT) should also wear a facemask.
From tomorrow, the statement said, those entering medical institutions, residential care homes for senior citizens, or rehabilitation care homes should wear a facemask.
In case of the occurrence of cluster infections of COVID-19 and other flu-like diseases in workplaces, day nurseries and schools, the statement said, those entering the premises should also wear a facemask.
2nd circumstance
According to the statement, from tomorrow public transport drivers and passengers will only be recommended to wear a facemask.
In addition, senior citizens, those with chronic diseases, and pregnant women, as well as those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 or influenza, will also be recommended to wear a facemask, if they enter premises that have crowds of people in them.
3rd circumstance
According to the statement, from tomorrow everyone can choose not to wear a facemask outdoors. In addition, people can choose not to wear a facemask if the wearing of a facemask may result in dyspnoea, i.e., difficulty in breathing.
All those aged three or below do not have to wear a facemask, the statement said.
2 babies with COVID-19 in hospital
Meanwhile, the government announced yesterday that two new COVID-19 patients were admitted to isolation and treatment facilities on Tuesday, a one-month-old and an 11-month-old baby.
The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced in a statement yesterday that the two patients were admitted to isolation and treatment facilities.
Speaking to reporters after attending a committee meeting in the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday, Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long said that two COVID-19 patients were admitted to isolation and treatment facilities on Tuesday, a one-month-old baby admitted to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, and an 11-month-old baby admitted to the private Kiang Wu Hospital.
Dr Lo said that both babies were in a stable condition.
According to Dr Lo, both came down with a fever and other respiratory symptoms when they were admitted. They were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease when they tested positive for COVID-19.
People wearing facemasks wait at a public bus stop in the city centre last night. – Photo: Tony Wong
