Addressing yesterday’s press conference about Macau’s novel coronavirus situation, Betty Fok Wai Lan, who heads the Destination Marketing Department of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), announced that from next month Macau residents who undergo their 14 days of quarantine and medical observation at one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” will also have to pay a fee of 5,600 patacas from the second time onwards.
All those arriving in Macau from any areas other than the mainland – namely Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries – must undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine upon their arrival here. While non-locals have to pay a fee of 5,600 patacas for their 14-day hotel quarantine, Macau residents’ stay currently is still free of charge, irrespective of how many times they have stayed at a “quarantine hotel”.
According to Fok, from September 1 locals can apply for exemption from the 5,600-pataca fee after their first free stay at a “quarantine hotel” if they needed to pay a visit to Hong Kong, Taiwan or a foreign country for official purposes or other special reasons.
Fok said that the new arrangement, which will start next Tuesday, aims to ensure the prudent use of public money, urging residents to carefully consider whether they really need to visit COVID-19 high-risk countries or regions. “Macau’s COVID-19 prevention work has now become routine, but the COVID-19 epidemic in many countries and regions has still not stabilised,” Fok said.
According to Fok, the new measure will be applicable also to those who underwent their 14-day hotel quarantine for the first time before September 1.
Currently, there are four government-arranged “quarantine hotels” – the Golden Crown China Hotel, Treasure Hotel, Regency Art Hotel in Taipa, and Pousada Marina Infante in Cotai.
There were 12 “quarantine hotels” during the local COVID-19 peak in late March.
Over 10,000 people have undergone their 14-day quarantine and medical observation at government-booked “quarantine hotels” since early this year when the COVID-19 epidemic emerged.
Facemasks to continue
Meanwhile, Alvis Lo Iek Long, a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, said during yesterday’s press conference that the government advises residents to continue to wear a facemask when out and about for the time being despite the fact that Macau’s COVID-19 epidemic has eased for a long time.
Lo said that wearing a facemask in Macau was still required for the time being as the normal movement of people between Macau and the mainland is gradually resuming. Lo said that due to the situation, the Macau government was urging residents to continue wearing a facemask, stick to social distancing and wash their hands regularly so as to reduce the possible risk of COVID-19 infection.
Lo underlined that the local government would possibly amend its guidelines concerning the circumstances under which residents should wear a facemask in the future, in line with the latest development of Macau’s COVID-19 situation and the ongoing restoration of the normal operation of Macau’s civil society.
Macau has not recorded a new COVID-19 case for 59 days, while no local case has been confirmed in 148 days.
Cross-border vehicle traffic made easier
Meanwhile, Ian Chan Un, acting chief of the Checkpoints Inspection Department of the Macau Customs Service, announced during yesterday’s press conference that from tomorrow Macau vehicles with a Guangdong-Macau dual licence plate will be permitted to cross the Macau-Zhuhai border without the need to make an appointment online.
Macau vehicles with a Guangdong-Macau dual licence plate had been barred from entering Guangdong since early April. They have been permitted to enter Guangdong via three Macau-Zhuhai land checkpoints – namely the Barrier Gate checkpoint, the joint Macau-Zhuhai checkpoint in Hengqin and the Macau-Zhuhai checkpoint at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) – since late last month, but the car owners have had to make an appointment online first.
Betty Fok Wai Lan (right), who heads the Macau Government Tourism Office’s (MGTO) Destination Marketing Department, Alvis Lo Iek Long (centre), one of the three clinical directors of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, and Ian Chan Un, acting chief of the Macau Customs Service’s Checkpoints Inspection Department, pose at yesterday’s press conference about the city’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Photo: GCS
