Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix in doubt
Addressing yesterday’s press conference about Macau’s novel coronavirus situation, Sports Bureau (ID) Vice President Christine Lam Lin Kio said that the government now believes that the number of foreign racers competing in this year’s Macau Grand Prix (MGP) will be “much less” than what was originally expected, as some of those who had previously expressed their willingness to come to Macau for the annual motor-racing event this year have changed their mind due to the city’s 14-day quarantine requirement,
Lam said that the Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee (MGPOC) aimed to make a decision by next week on its final arrangements for this year’s MGP.
The Sports Bureau announced last month that the annual Macau Grand Prix will take place without its signature Formula 3 race for the first time in 37 years. The 67th Macau Grand Prix is slated to be held on November 19-22, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic its programme will be curtailed. Unlike the F3 race, the 54th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix would go ahead, the bureau announced last month.
The Sports Bureau also said last month that foreign racers and their team members would have to present a nucleic acid test (NAT) certificate confirming that they have tested negative for COVID-19 before they can board flights to Macau. Upon arrival in Macau, they would immediately be transferred to one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” for their 14 days of quarantine and medical observation, and they would only be allowed to race if they have not been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease during the quarantine period, the Sports Bureau said last month.
The Sports Bureau also said last month that it expected about 200 racers to take part in this year’s Macau Grand Prix, most of them locals and from the mainland, Hong Kong and several Asian countries, while “very few” racers would be from other foreign countries such as European nations and the United States, most of them for the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Foreign nationals without a Macau ID card are currently barred from entering Macau. The local government said last month that it might allow foreign racers to enter Macau so that they could take part in this year’s Macau Grand Prix as their exemption from the entry ban would be in the public interest.
During yesterday’s press conference, Lam said that the Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee had previously contacted the foreign racers who intended to race in this year’s Macau Grand Prix, and all of them said at that time that they were looking forward to coming to Macau for the annual motor-racing event this year and willing to comply with Macau’s 14-day quarantine requirement and other COVID-19 prevention measures.
Lam noted that as the Macau Grand Prix is approaching, the committee has started to discuss with the foreign racers details about the arrangements for them to come to Macau for the races, but more and more of them have told the committee that they have changed their mind due to the Macau government’s 14-day quarantine requirement. Lam said that therefore for the time being the committee believes that there would be a “large difference” between the number of foreign racers who will come to Macau for the upcoming Macau Grand Prix and the originally expected number.
Consequently, Lam said that for the time being the committee does not know the exact total number of teams and racers participating in this year’s Macau Grand Prix. Lam said that the committee now aimed to make a decision by the middle of this month on its final arrangements for the annual motor-racing event this year.
Lam said that the committee would determine later whether the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix can take place during the upcoming Macau Grand Prix. She said that the motorcycle race could only take place if a minimum number of riders compete. Last year, the minimum stood at 22 riders.
Lam underlined that the committee will organise the upcoming Macau Grand Prix in strict adherence with the local government’s COVID-19 prevention measures.
Lam said that despite the fact that a number of foreign racers cannot come to Macau for the race, the government believes that this year’s Macau Grand Prix would still be “attractive” due to the committee’s efforts and residents’ support.
Long history & economic promotion
Lam pointed out that the Macau Grand Prix with a history of over six decades is not only a motor-racing event but also an important event promoting Macau’s tourism and economy. In addition to being a sports event, the Macau Grand Prix is also a major event in Macau, she said.
Lam underlined that as Macau’s COVID-19 situation has stabilised, the government plans to organise a string of sports events, including the Macau Grand Prix, so as to stimulate the local economy.
Macau has not recorded a new COVID-19 case for 101 days, while no local case has been confirmed in 190 days.
Grand Prix ‘won’t raise’ COVID-19 risk
Alvis Lo Iek Long, a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, reassured residents during yesterday’s press conference that holding the Macau Grand Prix this year would “certainly” not increase the risk of local COVID-19 transmission in the city.
Lo underlined that the local government has always adhered to its COVID-19 prevention and control principle of guarding against imported cases and a rebound in locally transmitted cases.
Lo underlined that all racers and their team members from Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as foreign countries will have to present a NAT certificate confirming that they have tested negative for COVID-19 before they can enter Macau. The racers will then have to undergo 14 days of quarantine and medical observation at one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” upon their arrival here, adding that during the 14-day quarantine period, each of them will have to undergo at least two nucleic acid tests. The racers will only be allowed to take part if they have not been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease during the quarantine period, Lo underlined.
Lo said that consequently the worst scenario would be that some of the racers are diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease during their 14-day quarantine period under the local government’s “hotel quarantine plus NAT” model. Therefore, Lo said that this would not increase the risk of local COVID-19 transmission in the city, and would not be an additional burden on its medical system.
Lo said that concerning the local government’s guarding against a rebound in locally transmitted cases, it would strictly carry out three major COVID-19 prevention measures during the upcoming Macau Grand Prix, namely 1) all spectators will have to present their Macau Health Code and undergo a temperature check at the entrances, 2) the spectators will have to stick to social distancing and always wear a facemask, and 3) the government will set up medical stations in various areas alongside the racetrack to tackle various possible medical situations.
Lo underlined that the local government will carry out its COVID-19 prevention work during the upcoming Macau Grand Prix in line with the “highest possible standards”.
Meanwhile, from this week the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre will reschedule its regular press conferences to only every Monday, a change from the hitherto two press conferences per week every Monday and Thursday, as Macau’s COVID-19 epidemic has been constantly easing. In journalese, press conferences are known as “pressers”.
NAT posts next to casinos
Meanwhile, Lo confirmed that eight NAT posts have been set up next to casinos run by the city’s six gaming operators. Lo said that the eight posts are run by Kuok Kim (Macau) Hygiene Examination Co. Ltd., a third-party testing institution commissioned by the local government to carry out COVID-19 testing under its NAT scheme.
Lo underlined that the eight NAT posts are a cooperation programme between Kuok Kim and the six gaming operators, which aims to make it more convenient for gamblers to undergo a nucleic acid test. According to Lo, only sampling is carried out in the eight NAT posts, while the laboratory testing is carried out in Kuok Kim’s premises.
Lo said that the Health Bureau has given its approval for Kuok Kim to set up the eight NAT posts next to casinos, after confirming that the sampling for COVID-19 testing carried out there is in line with its safety standards. The results of the NAT tests carried out at the eight posts will be displayed on the users’ Macau Health Code, Lo said.
Alvis Lo Iek Long (left), one of the three clinical directors of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, speaks during yesterday’s press conference about the city’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, as Sports Bureau (ID) Vice President Christine Lam Lin Kio looks on. Photo: Tony Wong
