Macau classifies S Korea as COVID-19-high-prevalence region

Addressing yesterday’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 the local government has decided to also classify South Korea as a COVID-19-high-prevalence region – and therefore, starting today, visitors arriving from South Korea must also undergo a medical examination, after considering that the number of confirmed

February 24, 2020 | BY admin

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Police warn of phone scams from ‘Macau Epidemic Prevention Centre’

The Judiciary Police (PJ) warned the public on Saturday to be wary of any call purported to be from the “Macau Epidemic Prevention Centre”, after it was reported that a fraudster, claiming to be calling from the “centre”, called a resident telling him or her that he or she was restricted from entering and exiting Macau.A PJ statement said on Saturday that they received a report from a local resident earlier that day who had doubts about a phone call from the “Macau Epidemic Prevention

February 24, 2020 | BY admin

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Judiciary Police warn of new ‘scarf tripping’ prank

The online video of a dangerous prank in which a teenager throws a looped scarf over the head of the victim and when the scarf reaches the victim’s ankles the perpetrator pulls the scarf backwards causing the victim to fall is circulating on the Internet, and the Judiciary Police (PJ) are urging again Macau’s youngsters not to mimic the prank.The “scarf tripping” prank is similar to the infamous “Tripping Jump Challenge”, another video circulating on the Internet. The Judiciary

February 24, 2020 | BY admin

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Macau classifies S Korea as high-prevalence COVID-19 area

The Macau government today classified South Korea as a high-prevalence COVID-19 area because of which travellers who had been in the country 14 days prior to their arrival here have to submit themselves to a medical examination before being allowed to enter the city. Only those given a clean bill of health will be permitted to enter Macau. The measure, which will take effect at midnight, was announced during the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre's daily press conference

February 23, 2020 | BY admin

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Melco donates 3 million patacas to women's association to help fight COVID-19

Macau gaming operator Melco donated today 3 million patacas (US$375,000) to the Women's General Association of Macau (widely known by its Cantonese name Fu Luen) for the purchase of facemaks and also as a contribution to an allowance scheme for families impacted by the noval coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic. The statement added that Melco was also supporting Chinese-language newspaper Macao Daily News' public health awareness and wellbeing online video series about the viral

February 23, 2020 | BY admin

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BNU donates 100,000 patacas to Holy House of Mercy of Macau

Macau-based Portuguese bank BNU has donated 100,000 patacas (US$12,500) to the Holy House of Mercy of Macau (SCMM) to help the Macanese fraternity support the government's measures against the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19)  epidemic, public broadcaster TDM-Radio Macau has reported. According to the report, BNU CEO Carlos Alvares presented the donation to SCMM President Antonio Jose de Freitas at the charitable organisation's headquarters in Largo do Senado on Friday. The

February 23, 2020 | BY admin

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No plans yet to bring back residents from Hubei: Macau government

There are no plans yet to bring the 124 local residents stranded in Hubei province, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, back to Macau, Ines Chan Lou, who heads the Macau Government Tourism Office's (MGTO) Licensing and Inspection Department, said today. However, Chan was quick to add that the local government would not give up on bringing the residents home from the province on which the central government has imposed a lockdown in its fight against the novel coronavirus pneumonia

February 22, 2020 | BY admin

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Sands China's 2019 profit rises 8.4 pct to US$2 billion

Hong Kong-listed Macau gaming operator Sands China has announced that its profit increased 8.4 percent to US$2.03 billion last year, when net revenues rose 1.7 percent to US$8.81 billion.According to a statement by the US company yesterday, last year's operating expenses rose a mere 0.3 percent to US$6.53 billion. Adjusted property EBITDA grew 3.7 percent to US$3.19 billion. The statement quoted Board Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson as saying that the company's EBITDA margins

February 22, 2020 | BY admin

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Govt starts 4th round of selling facemasks

The Macau government started today its fourth round of selling facemasks to residents and non-resident workers at the fixed price of 8 patacas (US$1) for 10 masks. Macau had a population of 676,100 at the end of September last year, according to the latest available official statistics. Addressing the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre's daily press conference about the viral threat yesterday, Health Bureau officials said the supply of facemasks was

February 22, 2020 | BY admin

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Inflation rate rises to 2.98 pct in January

Macau's composite consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.98 percent year-on-year last month, up by 0.42 percentage points compared to December 2019, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) has announced.A DSEC statement on Friday attributed the increment primarily to the higher cost of eating out and booking package tours, rising residential rents and higher prices of fresh pork and petrol. The price index of transport rose 6.53 percent, while the one of clothing and footwear fell 6.51

February 22, 2020 | BY admin

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1.4 million personal credit cards in Macau at end of 2019

The number of personal credit cards issued by banks in Macau rose 8.8 percent year-on-year to 1.4 million at the end of last year, the Macau Monetary Authorities (AMCM) has announced.A statement by Macau's quasi-central bank yesterday attributed the increase in personal credit cards last year primarily to the rising number of dual-currency and triple-currency cards. According to the statement, the number of pataca (MOP) cards rose 8.0 percent to 996,607, Hong Kong dollar cards increased

February 22, 2020 | BY admin

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Wilfred Wong reappointed president of Sands China

Hong Kong-listed Sands China Ltd. has announced the reappointment of Wilfred Wong Ying-wai, a former Hong Kong civil servant and ex-deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, as its president.The US gaming company announced Wong's reappointment in a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange yesterday.According to the statement, Wong, 67, "will provide overall leadership of the company and will focus on the long-term goals and strategic objectives of the business in Macau

February 22, 2020 | BY admin

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Melco's revenue rises, net income falls in 4Q

The net income attributable to Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited for the fourth quarter of 2019 fell 46.2 percent year-on-year to US$68.1 million, the gaming operator announced in a statement yesterday. The company's net income in the fourth quarter of 2018 amounted to US$126.6 million, according to the statement. "Total operating revenues for the fourth quarter of 2019 were US$1.45 billion, representing  an increase of approximately 3 percent from US$1.41 billion

February 21, 2020 | BY admin

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No special flight for Filipinos stranded in Macau: consulate

There will be no "special flight" for Filipinos stranded in Macau, the Philippine Consulate-General in Macau has announced. A statement by the consulate yesterday said that "this development is regrettable," adding: "We appeal for the continuing understanding and cooperation of the Filipino community in Macau, especially those left stranded by the flight cancellations."The consulate reiterates its appeal to all Filipinos affected by the flight cancellations to

February 21, 2020 | BY admin

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