Macau gazettes order to shut casinos, bars, gyms over coronavirus threat

The Macau government published an executive order signed by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng today that mandates the closure of all casinos and a string of other entertainment businesses from 00:00 on February 5 (tomorrow). According to the order published in the Official Gazette (BO), the objective of the order is to respond to the "risk" of a community outbreak of the novel coronavirus and avoid the transmission of the virus in Macau. Apart from ordering the closure of all

February 4, 2020 | BY admin

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Casinos, other entertainment businesses to close at midnight

Macau's 41 casinos well be closed for 15 days at midnight, the government said at its daily press conference about the novel coronavirus this afternoon.Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong confirmed the timing of the measure announced by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng four hours before.  Lei announced the midnight deadline after a meeting with executives from Macau's six gaming operators (SJM, Galaxy, Venetian, Melco, Wynn, MGM). Lei said the drastic measure aimed to prevent

February 4, 2020 | BY admin

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Macau to shut all casinos, coronavirus cases rise to 10

Macau will close all its casinos initially for two weeks after the number of confirmed cases of the deadly novel coronavirus cases rose from 8 to 10 today.Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng announced the unprecedented measure during a press conference at Government Headquarter this afternoon. Ho said the timing of the measure would be announce later today after a meeting with the city's gaming operators. In the past, casinos were only closed for short periods of time - such as a few hours or one

February 4, 2020 | BY admin

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All ferry services to HK axed, but business as usual for mainland links

All ferry services between Macau and Hong Kong were suspended from midnight last night,but ferries are still running between Macau’s Inner Harbour and Zhuhai’s Wanzai as well as between Macau and Shenzhen.  Turbojet and Cotaijet that operate daily ferry services between both Macau and Taipaand the Shun Tak Centre in Hong Kong yesterday evening both said that sailings would be suspended at midnight until further notice, following the Hong Kong government’s announcement yesterday

February 4, 2020 | BY admin

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Govt won’t consider closing bordercheckpoints: Ao Ieong

Addressing yesterday’s daily press conference about Macau’s latest novel coronavirus situation, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U said that for the time being the local government will not consider closing any of the city’s border checkpoints, as many non-resident workers and local residents live in Zhuhai. Ao Ieong made the remarks during the press conference yesterday evening at theHealth Bureau (SSM) next to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital

February 4, 2020 | BY admin

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HK suspends last Macau ferry link

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced yesterday that her government has decided to close the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal (Shun Tak Centre) in Sheung Wan from midnight to protect the city from the novel coronavirus outbreak on the mainland. Lam made the announcement of shutting most of Hong Kong's mainland border checkpoints at a press conference at the Hong Kong government's headquarters. According to Lam, only three Hong Kong- border checkpoints will

February 3, 2020 | BY admin

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Locals' jobless rate remains at 2.3 pct

Macau residents' unemployment rate stayed unchanged at 2.3 percent in the October-December 2019 survey period compared with the previous period of September-November 2019, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) announced today. Macau's overall jobless rate - comprising locals and non-resident workers - amounted to 1. 7 percent. The city's total labour force stood at 396,500 and the labour force participation rate amounted to 70.2 percent in the October-December period. Total

February 3, 2020 | BY admin

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Hotel guests dip 2.2 pct in December

Macau's 123 hotels and guesthouses recorded 1.22 million guests in December, a year-on-year drop of 2.2 percent, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) announced today. According to a DSEC statement, the number of guests from the Chinese mainland declined 4.9 percent to 821,000, whereas the number of guests from South Korea (47,000) and Hong Kong (163,000) rose 12.5 percent and 20.4 percent respectively. South Koreans are the hotel sector's number-one foreign guest segment.In December,

February 3, 2020 | BY admin

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Package tour visitors fall nearly 42 pct in December

Macau's number of visitors on package tours declined 41.8 percent year-on-year to 543,000 in December, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) announced today. According to a DSEC statement, the number of mainland Chinese package tour visitor fell 44.4 percent to 416,000, while the number of package tour visitors from South Korea dropped 39.1 percent to 38,000. South Korea is Macau's top source of foreign visitors. For the whole year of 2019, the number of package tour visitors

February 3, 2020 | BY admin

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Air passengers drop 25 pct over CNY

Macau's airport recorded 115,676 passengers between January 24, Chinese New Year's Eve, and January 28, the fourth day of the CNY, a 25 percent decline compared with the same CNY period of 2019. According to a statement by the Macau International Airport Company (CAM), the decrease was bigger than expected. However, the statement underlined that the airport's passenger movement for the whole of last month still rose eight percent to some 830,000. Due to the novel coronavirus

February 3, 2020 | BY admin

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Bus passengers, bank clients must wear facemasks

Bus passengers and bank clients must wear facemasks from today, both sectors have announced. Macau's banks also require all customers entering their premises to undergo body temperature checks. The local banking sector restarted its operations today after a weeklong extended Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday. The CNY holiday had been extended by two days last week (Thursday and Friday) because of the novel coronavirus threat. Meanwhile, bus drivers can from today refuse passengers

February 3, 2020 | BY admin

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Govt urges bosses to find local homes for non-resident workers living in Zhuhai

Govt urges bosses to find local homes for imported workers living in Zhuhai Local woman confirmed as Macau’s 8th coronavirus patient  Tony Wong Addressing yesterday’s daily press conference about Macau’s latest novel coronavirus situation, Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong said that for non-resident workers who commute between Macau and Zhuhai every day and whose continued work here is considered necessary by their employers then the latter should provide them

February 3, 2020 | BY admin

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Macau's Catholic bishop addresses novel coronavirus threat

Catholic Diocese of MacauPastoral Letter In Times of Adversity, Greater Love isShown Dear Brothers and Sisters, Our city of Macau, China, and the rest of the world are confronting the novel Coronavirus epidemic. At this critical,painful moment, let us be of one heart in overcoming this epidemic, and not forget to exercise that most sublime and strongest virtue for humanity in theworld -- Love:“Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or

February 2, 2020 | BY admin

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Joining hands in the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic

Joining hands in the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic  Commentary by Chen Dongxiao* The novel coronavirus – officially known as2019-nCov – epidemic has become a common concern of the international community. Since the first infection was diagnosed in Wuhan in December 2019,the novel coronavirus has been spreading at a speed even beyond the expectations of medical experts. In response, the central government mandated Wuhan city’squarantine on January 23, and 31

February 2, 2020 | BY admin

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