Macau recorded 202 COVID-19 infections on Monday, an increase of 201.5 percent from the 67 infections reported on Sunday, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced in a statement yesterday.
According to the statement, two new COVID-19 patients were admitted to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre on Monday for treatment.
Consequently, a total of 184 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to treatment facilities between May 1 and June 19.
Before a new COVID-19 fatality was recorded on Sunday, Macau had not recorded any COVID-19 fatalities for six days in a row, from June 12 to 17.
Macau’s official COVID-19 death toll now stands at 124.
16th round of RAT kit purchase scheme to start on Friday
Meanwhile, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced in a separate statement yesterday that the government’s 16th round of its rapid antigen test (RAT) kit purchase scheme will start on Friday.
As in previous rounds, the 16th round of the programme will run for 14 days, between Friday and July 6, during which each local resident, non-resident worker and non-local student enrolled in Macau’s higher education institutions will be entitled to buy a total of 10 RAT kits at the fixed price of 40 patacas at designated outlets, i.e., four patacas per kit.
According to the statement, COVID-19 RAT kits provided by the programme’s 16th round will be sold at 55 designated pharmacies, five venues run by the Macau Women’s General Association (known as Fu Luen in Cantonese), and five venues run by the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (Gung Luen).
The Macau government rolled out the programme in early December last year, enabling local residents, non-resident workers, and non-local students enrolled in Macau’s higher education institutions to buy RAT kits used for COVID-19 self-tests from designated outlets at a discounted price.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long reaffirmed that the government will continue with its RAT kit purchase scheme and facemask purchase scheme for the time being because there was still demand for the products.
The government’s facemask purchase scheme was rolled out in early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began to affect the city.
