Only 3 of 12 ‘quarantine hotels’ still in operation
Addressing yesterday evening’s daily press conference about Macau’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, Alvis Lo Iek Long, a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, announced the discharge of Macau’s 28th COVID-19 patient yesterday, an 18-year-old local male student who returned from the United Kingdom, taking the number of those no longer requiring hospitalisation to 16 among Macau’s total of 45 COVID-19 cases.
According to Lo, the 18-year-old student departed from London on March 20 for Macau via Dubai and Bangkok. After arriving in Macau on March 22, he was transferred to the Treasure Hotel in Taipa – which returned to its normal hospitality role last week following the completion of its role as a “quarantine hotel” – for 14 days of quarantine and medical observation. He tested positive for the novel coronavirus on March 24. He was diagnosed with the disease the following day after a CT scan showed pneumonia.
According to Lo, the student met the official criteria for a COVID-19 patient to be discharged after 23-day treatment in the isolation ward. He was transferred to the Health Bureau’s (SSM) Public Health Clinical Centre in Coloane yesterday for 14 days of recovery period isolation.
Following yesterday’s discharge of the student, a total of 29 COVID-19 patients remain hospitalised. Only one of the patients still in hospital is in a serious condition.
Macau has so far confirmed 45 COVID-19 cases. The 10 patients (seven tourists from Wuhan and three locals) in Macau’s “first wave” of the COVID-19 infection – which lasted from January 22 to February 4 – have been discharged, while six of the 35 patients in the “second wave” – which began on March 15 – have been discharged since Easter Sunday. All the 35 cases in the current “second wave” have been classified as imported, most of them local students returning from overseas.
Macau has not confirmed a new COVID-19 case for seven consecutive days in the “second wave” after the 45th case was confirmed last Wednesday.
Air passengers
Meanwhile, SSM Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Department Coordinator Leong Iek Hou reaffirmed during yesterday’s press conference that all air passengers – including Macau residents – must obtain a certificate confirming that they have tested negative for COVID-19, before they are allowed to board their flight to Macau.
Leong said during Tuesday’s daily press conference that the local government had ordered airlines to ensure the implementation of three measures on passengers who are about to board flight to Macau. Firstly, airlines must ensure that the passengers meet Macau’s current entry measures in response to the COVID-19 threat, namely by not allowing foreign nationals to board the flight as they are currently barred from entering Macau. Secondly, airlines must request visitors to show a certificate confirming that they have tested negative for COVID-19 within seven days prior to their intended flight to Macau. Otherwise they are not allowed to board the flight. Thirdly, passengers must have their temperature checked before boarding the flight, and those with a fever are not allowed to get on the aeroplane, according to Tuesday’s announcement.
In a statement yesterday afternoon, the government’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre said that it has told airlines via the Macau Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) that all air passengers departing for Macau must present a certificate issued by medical institutions at the place from where they depart confirming that they have tested negative for COVID-19 before boarding the plane. The statement said that those who fail to submit such a certificate will not be allowed to board the flight.
During yesterday’s press conference, Leong said that the Health Bureau has provided the Macau Civil Aviation Authority with its guidelines on how to implement the COVID-19 test certificate measure. Leong underlined that despite having submitted the certificate, air passengers who have arrived in Macau from COVID-19-high-prevalence areas must still go into 14 days of quarantine and medical observation.
Foreign visitors have been barred from entering Macau since March 18, and the entry ban was extended to cover all foreign nationals – including foreign non-resident workers –the following day.
Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan residents who have been to a foreign country within 14 days before their intended arrival here have been barred from entering Macau since March 25.
Macau residents who have been to a foreign country, Hong Kong or Taiwan within 14 days prior to their return to Macau must go into 14 days of quarantine and medical observation at a designated hotel.
Leong reaffirmed yesterday that the COVID-19 test certificate measure aims to prevent other passengers and crew members on a flight from being infected with the novel coronavirus disease.
Alvis Lo Iek Long (centre), one of the three clinical directors of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, Health Bureau (SSM) Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Department Coordinator Leong Iek Hou (right), and Inês Chan Lou, who heads the Macau Government Tourism Office’s (MGTO) Licensing and Inspection Department, pose during yesterday’s press conference at the bureau about the city’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Photo: GCS
Jai Alai to return to hospitality role
Meanwhile, Inês Chan Lou, who heads the Licensing and Inspection Department of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), announced during yesterday’s press conference that the 132-room Jai Alai hotel in Zape, one of the government’s “quarantine hotels”, will return to its normal hospitality role, following disinfection and cleaning.
At the peak, there were 12 “quarantine hotels” with about 3,000 guestrooms. Early last week, Metropole Hotel in the city centre became the first of the government’s “quarantine hotels” to return to its normal hospitality role, and since then more and more “quarantine hotels” have returned to their previous roles after all those who completed their 14-day quarantine and medical observation in them had checked out.
Metropole Hotel in the city centre reopened yesterday.
Grand Coloane Resort and Grand Lapa Macau said yesterday they will reopen on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The three remaining “quarantine hotels” are Pousada Marina Infante in Cotai, Golden Crown China Hotel opposite the local airport in Taipa, and a section of the Sheraton Grand hotel in Cotai.
Chan said that as of yesterday afternoon 437 people were still undergoing their 14 days of quarantine and medical observation in the government’s now three “quarantine hotels” – comprising 235 Macau residents as well as 202 non-resident workers and visitors.
At the peak late last month, some 2,800 people were undergoing their 14 days of quarantine and medical observation in the government’s then 12 “quarantine hotels”.
