Covid-19 restrictions in Macau are starting to be further relaxed, more than ever before in almost three years since the pandemic began in January 2020, as the city is starting to gradually open, following mainland China’s recent move in cancelling many of the nation’s strict pandemic measures. Macau’s Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong thanked the people in Macau during a press conference yesterday for their cooperation in the past three years. As Macau is entering this new phase, close contacts of Covid-19 cases will only need to be quarantined at home starting on Monday. Regular nucleic acid tests (NAT) will be replaced with self-administered rapid antigen tests (RAT) – those with positive results will be assessed according to their individual situation whether they need to do home quarantine, visit a clinic or go to the hospital. Currently, people testing positive for Covid-19 would be picked up in an ambulance. Unlike in mainland China, Macau will still keep the QR code measures.
However, Ao Ieong also warned yesterday that, with the new changes, up to 80 per cent of the population could be infected in a short time, even with some critical cases and fatalities. Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo said the government is confident local health authorities will be able to deal with such situations. According to Lo, 600 hospital beds, 6,000 isolation beds in hotels and 139 ventilators are ready in Macau in case the situation requires, with 106 doctors and 89 nurses available to treat Covid-19, Macao News reported.
Meanwhile, starting today, only two people per household are allowed to visit patients at the public hospital Conde de Sao Januario (San Teng) and visitors must wear KN95 masks at all times, and show a 24-hour negative RAT or NAT result, health authorities announced last night, also underlining it is not advisable to visit children under the age of five.
Photo: Vernon Raineil Cenzon
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