The Health Bueau (SSM) lowered the severity of its response to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) from high-level alert to that of 'Close monitoring' on 1^st August, whilst the Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) has withdrawn its recommendation for local citizens to avoid travelling to Korea.

GGCT reminds Macau residents that they still need to pay attention to personal hygiene when travelling to South Korea and continue to pay attention to the recommendations issued by the SSM. In addition, the Travel Industry Council of Macau has announced that travel agencies in Macau re-launched tour packages to Korea in August.

MERS first appeared in 2012 in the Middle East. Recently, it spread to South Korea leading to a massive outbreak of the disease from May to July. Some 186 people were infected, with three people reported to have died. A number of hospitals were forced to shut down temporarily. As the risk of MERS spreading to Macau was considered high, the MSAR Government raised the MERS response level to high on 8^th June.