Facemask-wearing requirements at care homes for senior citizens, rehabilitation care homes, and drug rehabilitation homes will be relaxed from tomorrow, so that those visiting the facilities will no longer be required to wear a N95, KN95 or FFP2 facemask and instead they will only be required to wear a surgical facemask, the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) announced in a statement yesterday.
Considering that Macau’s COVID-19 situation has eased over recent weeks, the Social Welfare Bureau has decided to relax its facemask-wearing requirements for the three kinds of care homes, which will take effect tomorrow, after consulting the Health Bureau (SSM), the statement said.
Stricter facemask-wearing requirements for the care homes, i.e., the mandatory wearing of a N95, KN95 or FFP2 facemask, have been implemented since late May when Macau was being affected by a peak of COVID-19 infections, which started in early May.
The COVID-19 peak began to gradually ease at around the middle of last month.
Yesterday’s statement said that from tomorrow people who visit those living in the care homes will only be required to wear a surgical facemask or one with a higher standard during the entire duration of their stay there.
During their visit to the care homes, the statement said, the visitors will not be allowed to engage in any activities that require them to remove their facemasks, such as for eating and drinking.
According to the statement, from tomorrow staff members of the care homes will only be required to wear a surgical facemask or one with a higher standard while working there. The statement underlined that they are particularly required to wear a facemask when they are in contact with the service users.
The statement said that the staff members will only be allowed to remove their facemasks when they are eating and drinking or in other situations where it is necessary to remove their facemasks.
According to yesterday’s statement, certain special COVID-19 measures that started in late May for the care homes will continue to be implemented from tomorrow. According to the measures, those who have come down with symptoms such as a fever, fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, or cough are barred from visiting the care homes. In addition, those who have self-tested positive for COVID-19 in a rapid antigen test (RAT) are also barred from visiting the care homes.
Moreover, according to the measures that will continue from tomorrow, those living or working in the care homes who have come down with any of the symptoms should undergo a daily COVID-19 rapid antigen test for three consecutive days.
Yesterday’s statement also reaffirmed that if any of the service users or staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, the respective care homes are required to implement proper prevention and control measures with the aim of lowering the risk of transmissions of the novel coronavirus.
Care homes that are being affected by COVID-19 infections should report the situation to the Social Welfare Bureau as soon as possible, the statement underlined.
413 COVID-19 infections in 7 days
Macau recorded a total of just 413 COVID-19 infections in seven days from Monday last week through Sunday, according to the latest data released by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre.
From July 10 to 16, according to the latest data, the new daily numbers of COVID-19 infections recorded were 111, 67, 57, 73, 58, 26, and 21.
No new COVID-19 patients were admitted to treatment facilities in six of the seven days from Monday last week to Sunday, while a COVID-19 patient was admitted to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre on Thursday last week for treatment.
Consequently, a total of 211 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to treatment facilities between May 1 and July 16.
Macau has not recorded any COVID-19 fatalities for 28 consecutive days, from June 19 to July 16, after the latest COVID-19 fatality was recorded on June 18.
Macau’s official COVID-19 death toll currently stands at 124.
This undated photo downloaded from Caritas Macau’s website yesterday shows its day care centre for senior citizens on the ground floor of the Nova Taipa Garden residential estate.
