Addressing yesterday’s press conference about Macau’s novel coronavirus situation, the Health Bureau’s (SSM) Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Department Coordinator Leong Iek Hou announced that from 6 a.m. today all those arriving in Macau from Hong Kong must present a nucleic acid test (NAT) certificate confirming that they have tested negative for COVID-19 within the past 72 hours, otherwise they will be refused entry.
Before today’s new measure, since July 13 all those arriving in Macau from Hong Kong had had to present a NAT certificate confirming that they had tested negative for COVID-19 within the past seven days.
Leong said yesterday that the Macau government has decided to tighten the requirement for the NAT certificates presented by arrivals from Hong Kong – from seven days to 72 hours, after considering that Hong Kong’s COVID-19 epidemic is still serious.
Leong pointed out that all arrivals who have been in Hong Kong within 14 days prior to their entry into Macau must undergo 14 days of quarantine and medical observation at one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” – irrespective of their NAT certificate. The Macau government has implemented its 14-day quarantine on arrivals from Hong Kong since March 25.
A statement by the Macau government last night about the new 72-hour NAT certificate measure said that the drivers of public transport vehicles travelling from Hong Kong to Macau should refuse passengers who fail to present the required NAT certificate when boarding the vehicles.
‘Closed-loop management’ for HK-Macau cargo ship crew members
Meanwhile, Leong also announced that the Macau government has now implemented tougher measures for crew members of cargo ships plying the Hong Kong-Macau route. Leong pointed out that before the new measures, the crew members merely had to be tested for COVID-19 every seven days without having to undergo quarantine during their stay in Macau. Leong said that now the crew members, almost all of them Macau residents, are subject to “closed-loop management” during their stay in Macau, according to which upon going ashore in Macau they will be transported by special vehicles to one of the government’s “quarantine hotels”. They must stay in their guestroom until they go to work again when they will be transported by special vehicles back to the pier to board their Hong Kong-bound vessels.
Leong said that the new measures will ensure that the crew members will not go into the community in Macau, so as to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading here in case they have been infected with the novel coronavirus.
The Macau government said last week that the crew members are not allowed to go ashore when their vessels are in Hong Kong. Goods in Hong Kong are only loaded on to the Macau-bound ships by mechanical devices. Hong Kong people are not permitted to board the Macau-bound ships.
Leong said yesterday that five cargo ships are currently commuting between Hong Kong and Macau. Leong said that as the crew members of each ship are in close touch with each other during their onboard work, the Macau government is not barring them from remaining in touch with each other during their stay in Macau. Leong said that nevertheless the Macau government was carrying out special measures to ensure that crew members from the five cargo ships won’t get in touch during their stay here.
Leong also said that as the operations of the Hong Kong-Macau cargo ships are essential to the supply of goods to Macau for residents’ daily life, the Macau government will bear the cost of their stay at the “quarantine hotels” as their work serves the public interest.
Leong pointed out that the Macau government has always been implementing “closed-loop management” for pilots and other crew members of cargo planes arriving in Macau from COVID-19 high-risk countries such as the United States and Europe during their stay in Macau, according to which upon arrival in Macau they are transported to one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” and afterwards are transported back to the local airport for their next flight.
14-day quarantine for all arrivals from Urumqi & Dalian
Meanwhile, Leong also announced that from 6 a.m. today all arrivals who have been in Urumqi (the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region) and Dalian (a city in Liaoning province) within 14 days prior to their entry into Macau must undergo 14 days of quarantine and medical observation at one of the government’s “quarantine hotels”. Leong said that the Macau government has decided to classify the two cities as “high-risk” areas after considering the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic in the autonomous region and the province.
The COVID-19 epidemic in Xinjiang and Liaoning, which emerged last month, has been primarily occurring in Urumqi and Dalian respectively.
The Macau government classified Xinjiang and Liaoning as “medium-risk” areas last month, according to which upon arrival in Macau the Macau Health Code of travellers who have been in Xinjiang or Liaoning within the past 14 days will indicate yellow. While they do not need to go into quarantine in Macau upon their arrival here, they have to practise “self-health management” during their stay here required by the Macau Health Bureau (SSM).
Leong said yesterday that three travellers from Xinjiang have visited Macau since the Health Bureau classified the autonomous region as a “medium-risk” area on July 22, while 38 travellers from Liaoning have visited Macau since the province was classified as a “medium-risk” area on July 27, and five of them had been to Dalian within the 14 days prior to their entry into Macau. Leong underlined that the Macau government has been constantly following up on their latest health status during their stay here, adding that none of them has come down with COVID-19 symptoms.
Transfer flights to US & Europe
Meanwhile, Lau Fong Chi from the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) announced during the press conference that the Macau government will roll out special measures to help Macau residents who are enrolled overseas to fly to the respective countries. Lau said that after discussions with the Macau government, a number of airlines that serve the Macau airport plan to increase the number of trips late this month and early next month from Macau to Taipei and Seoul respectively, from where the local passengers can take transfer flights to the US and European countries.
Meanwhile, Alvis Lo Iek Long, a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, announced during the press conference that the government will no longer issue paper NAT certificates to those who have undergone a COVID-19 test under its NAT programme upon their request. Lo said that the government has decided to implement the new measure as the NAT test results can now be displayed on residents’ Macau Health Code within 24 hours after they have had their sample collected.
Macau has not recorded a new COVID-19 case for 38 days.
Health Bureau (SSM) Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Department Coordinator Leong Iek Hou addresses yesterday’s press conference about the city’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Photo: GCS
