Snapshots of daily life as city fights COVID-19

People enjoy an afternoon in Flora Garden.Workers prepare for roadworks near Avenida de Horta e Costa.People look at a notice about a QR code for their digital health declaration that they have to submit before entering the Venetian casino. Just a few people are at the Venetian’s usually packed foodcourt. People order a quick snack from a street vendor in the old quarters.Many restaurants are still closed near Largo do Senado.Photos taken yesterday by Michele Pui, Camy Tam,

February 28, 2020 | BY admin

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All public services to return to ‘normal’ on Monday

The Secretariat for Administration and Justice (GSAJ) said in a statement last night that all public services will resume their “normal” work schedule on Monday.  Considering the latest developments of the COVID-19 epidemic and citizens’ need for public services, the government has decided to resume the public administration’s “normal” services on Monday, the statement said.  According to the statement, when entering public administration premises, citizens still must wear

February 28, 2020 | BY admin

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Smoking to be banned in all parks from Sunday: IAM

The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said in a statement yesterday that smoking will be banned in all public parks from Sunday.  According to the statement, the measure has been taken after careful consideration and listening to citizens' views on the matter.  According to the Macau Anti-Smoking Law, smoking is prohibited in all local parks, gardens and green areas managed by the public administration.  However, according to the same law, the government could designate smoking

February 28, 2020 | BY admin

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Macau's int'l banking assets rise to 1.7 trillion patacas last year

Macau's international banking assets rose 12.7 percent year-on-year to 1.71 trillion patacas (US$214 billion) at the end of last year, the Macau Monetary Authority (AMCM) announced today. Among the international banking assets, external assets rose 14.9 percent year-on-year to 1.29 trillion patacas, while local assets in foreign currency rose 6.4 percent to 424 billion patacas. External nonbank loans increased 10.5 percent to 555 billion patacas.Total international liabilities rose 14.1

February 27, 2020 | BY admin

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Govt says no date yet for schools to resume classes

There is no date yet for schools to resume classes, the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) said in a statement yesterday, in response to reports that the government had already come up with a “back-to-school” date.  “Reports circulating online or among the public about a resumption date for classes are not true,” the statement said, adding that the public should pay attention to announcements made by the government. According to the statement, the bureau has been in

February 27, 2020 | BY admin

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Snapshots of daily life as city fights COVID-19

Two women chat at the only vendor stall open in Taipa Old Village. Children ride bicycles in the square in front of Pak Tai Temple in Taipa Old Village.People walk along Rua do Cunha, where only a few souvenir shops are open.A man wearing a facemask rides his scooter along Calcada do Quartel in Taipa.A staff member is on duty at the empty Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. A used facemask has been dumped in a street near Lou Lim Ieoc Garden.Photos taken yesterday by Camy Tam and Monica

February 27, 2020 | BY admin

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Locals returning from S Korea can choose home or hotel quarantine

Addressing yesterday evening’s daily press conference about Macau’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, the Health Bureau’s (SSM) Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Department Coordinator Leong Iek Hou said that anyone, including local residents, visitors and non-resident workers, who had been in South Korea 14 days before their intended entry into Macau have to stay under medical surveillance for 14 days, a measure that started to be implemented at noon

February 27, 2020 | BY admin

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2 Taiwanese nabbed for setting up phone scam centre in Macau

Two Taiwanese men have been arrested for allegedly setting up a phone scam centre and providing maintenance and operation services for the centre which had been sending out 6,145 voice calls and 313 SMS messages every day for the past six months, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Ho Chan Nam said during a special press conference in front of the crime scene yesterday.According to Ho, the Judiciary Police have been cooperating with the Zhuhai Public Security Bureau about the case since last year.

February 27, 2020 | BY admin

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Ex-policy secretary to head Macau WTO office in Geneva

Macau’s former policy secretary for social affairs and culture, Alexis Tam Chon Weng, has been appointed director of the Macau Economic and Trade Office to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in GenevaTam’s appointment was published in the Official Gazette (BO). According to an executive order signed by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, the appointment takes effect on May 1 and expires on December 19 this year.Tam has headed the Macau Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon and the Macau Economic and

February 27, 2020 | BY admin

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Science Centre axes all activities until end-March

As part of the government’s battle against the COVID——19 epidemic, the Macau Science Centre (MSC) said in a statement yesterday that its Convention Centre has cancelled all activities until the end of March.The measures are aimed at reducing potential public health risks from mass gatherings, the statement said.The MSC will contact the affected organisers to discuss venue rental matters, the statement noted.Meanwhile, the MSC’s Exhibition Centre and Planetarium will remain closed until

February 27, 2020 | BY admin

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BNU donates 100,000 patacas to Macau Red Cross to help fight COVID-19

Macau-based Portuguese bank BNU said today that it has donated 100,000 patacas (US$12,500) to the Macau Red Cross in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. According to a BNU statement on Tuesday, the donation was handed by BNU executive directors Sam Tou and Ieong Kim Man to Macau Red Cross Central Council President Eddie Wong Yue-kai and Executive Council President Quin Va at the BNU headquarters on Monday.The statement pointed out that the Red Cross movement has been

February 26, 2020 | BY admin

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Sands donates 1.6 million patacas to 33 elderly, rehabilitation centres to prevent COVID-19

Macau gaming operator Sands China said in a statement today that it is donating 1.65 million patacas (US$206,000) to 33 elderly and rehabilitation centres listed by the Macau Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) to assist them in taking measures to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and safeguard the health of their over 3,100 users. Each of the 33 facilities - both senior citizen homes and rehabilitation centres - will receive 50,000 patacas to be used for cleaning and

February 26, 2020 | BY admin

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Macau's financial reserves gain 5.6 pct in 2019

The financial reserves of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) gained a record 5.6 percent last year, when they reached around 580 billion patacas (US$72.5 billion), the Macau Monetary Authority (AMCM) said in a statement today. According to the statement, the reserves' investment income reached 30.2 billion patacas, corresponding to a return of 5.6 percent year-on-year, a "new record" since the setting up of the reserves in 2012. The statement released through the

February 26, 2020 | BY admin

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Snapshots of daily life as city fights COVID-19

Locals shop for groceries in Rua da Emenda near Avenida da Horta e Costa.A woman gets her temperature checked (left) as she enters the Red Market.Parents take children out to spend the afternoon at the lakeside overlooking Macau Tower.People gather outside an eatery near the Three Lamps district as they wait for their takeaway orders.A woman wearing a facemask uses exercise equipment in a sitting-out area in Nam Van.People enjoy the afternoon in the sitting-out area in Nam

February 26, 2020 | BY admin

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