Addressing yesterday’s daily press conference about Macau’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong announced that the city’s casinos can reopen for business on Thursday, following their 15-day government-ordered closure to reduce the risk of the spread of the highly infectious disease.
Lei said that casinos that are not “fully prepared” to relaunch their operations right away can apply to defer reopening their doors for up to 30 days. After the 30-day transition period, all the casinos in the city must fully reopen, the policy secretary said.
According to Lei, all casinos must take measures to ensure that the novel coronavirus is not spreading on their premises, in strict line with the requirements of the Health Bureau (SSM), before they can reopen for business.
Lei stressed that the government has made the decision to reopen the casinos after striking a balance between the city’s COVID-19 prevention work and ensuring the employment of the workers in the gaming sector.
Lei said that the government is currently discussing with the city’s six gaming operators (SJM, Wynn, Galaxy, Venetian, MGM and Melco) the tasks and measures they must take in preparation for reopening their casinos.
Lei made the remarks yesterday evening at the Health Bureau (SSM) next to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre.
Two other policy secretaries, Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U also attended the press conference. The government has five policy secretaries.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng ordered the temporary casino closure on February 4 when the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen from 8 to 10. Later that day, Lei told the daily press conference that Macau’s 41 casinos will be closed for 15 days starting from 00:00 on February 5.
According to the website of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), the 41 casinos comprise 22 owned by SJM, six by Galaxy, five by Venetian, four by Melco, and two each by Wynn and MGM. However, the operations of two casinos owned by SJM are currently suspended, according to the website.
According to an executive order signed by Ho and published in the Official Gazette (BO) shortly before yesterday’s press conference – which started at 5 p.m., the casino closure order will be lifted starting from 00:00 on Thursday – meaning that the casinos can restart business at this time, Lei pointed out.
Lei said that the six gaming operators are carrying out epidemic preventive measures in line with, or even exceeding the requirements set by the Health Bureau in preparation for reopening their doors. According to Lei, the measures include a change in the number of gaming tables to be operated and a change in the distance between the gaming tables.According to Lei, all staff and visitors must wear facemasks and undergo a body temperature check before entering casinos.
Lei underlined that the government has decided to reopen the casinos based on a risk assessment – ensuring the health of casino staff and meeting “the various objective conditions”.
Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon (left) speaks during yesterday’s press conference at the Health Bureau (SSM) about the city’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, as Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U (centre) and Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong look on. Photo: Tony Wong
‘Striking a balance’
When asked why the government has decided to reopen the casinos while repeatedly urging residents to persevere in staying at home and refraining from going out, Lei noted that 84,000 local residents are working for the gaming sector so that the government needs to strike a balance when deciding to implement certain measures – ensuring the employment of the workers while also maintaining strong epidemic prevention work.
Lei said that the government expects a very small number of gamblers in the casinos after they reopen for business for the time being. Lei said that if the number of visitors entering the casinos starts to increase, the government will take measures to manage the flow of people based on a risk assessment.
Macau’s number of visitor arrivals has fallen by over 90 percent since late last month when the novel coronavirus epidemic intensified across the nation and elsewhere.Other entertainment venues to stay closed
During yesterday’s press conference, Cheong pointed out that according to yesterday’s executive order signed by Ho, the lifting of the closure order is limited to the gaming industry for the time being so that other entertainment businesses such as bars, cinemas, massage parlours, beauty salons, cybercafes, karaoke bars, discotheques, gyms and nightclubs will remain closed by government order until further notice.
The non-gaming entertainment venues have also been closed since February 5.
Cheong said that the government has decided to keep the non-gaming entertainment venues closed until further notice after considering that many of them had already closed their doors before February 5 because of the epidemic and a large decrease in the number of customers. Cheong said that the government considers that the entertainment venues should remain closed for the time being after referencing the epidemic prevention guidelines formulated by the National Health Commission (NHC).
14-day quarantine for migrant workers
Cheong also announced that non-resident workers who were on the mainland two weeks before their intended entry into Macau will need to go into 14 days of quarantine first.
According to another executive order signed by Ho and promulgated in yesterday’s Official Gazette, which was published shortly before yesterday’s press conference, the measure will take effect at 00:00 on Thursday, Cheong pointed out.
According to the executive order, non-resident workers who have been on the mainland 14 days before their intended entry into Macau will have to stay under medical observation for 14 days in a place in the adjacent city of Zhuhai arranged by the health authorities there and then obtain a health certificate issued by the Zhuhai health authorities confirming that they are not infected with the novel coronavirus, before they will be allowed to enter Macau, Cheong pointed out.
Macau’s last two COVID-19 cases, the 9th and 10th cases, were confirmed on February 4. Among the 10 COVID-19 patients, five have meanwhile been discharged from hospital. The 10 cases comprise seven tourists from Wuhan and three locals.
According to the executive order, those who intend to enter Macau but cannot obtain the required heath certificate will have to stay under medical observation for 14 days in a place in Macau arranged by the local health authorities. Cheong noted that for instance, non-resident workers who fall in this category include those who have arrived in Macau by air but had been on the mainland two weeks prior, therefore they would have to go into quarantine in Macau. Cheong said that those who stay under medical observation in Macau for two weeks will have to pay for their accommodation and meals.
During yesterday’s press conference, Ao Ieong said that those who have completed the 14-day medical observation in Zhuhai will be transported back to Macau in vehicles arranged by the Zhuhai authorities so that there is no risk of them staying anywhere else in Zhuhai after the quarantine.
Zhuhai has so far confirmed 97 COVID-19 cases, according to news reports from the adjacent city in Guangdong province.
