Following the good results of a series of epidemic prevention measures to fight the outbreak taken by the Macao SAR government in line with its “dynamic zero” policy, including deploying mass testing and strict quarantine measures across the city over three phases between 19^th June and 22^nd July. From 23^rd July to 1^st August, the city entered a “consolidation period”. Macao has entered a “stabilisation period” for a week from midnight on 2^nd August, and the epidemic prevention measures will be further loosened up.

After reaching a total of 1,821 cases related to this outbreak, no new cases have been reported from 23^rd July. Since the first cases emerged on 18^th June, 6 deaths were reported concerning elderly people with underlying chronical diseases. Among the cases reported 1,116 are asymptomatic.

“Relatively static” control measures implemented in third phase

There have been three phases in Macao’s epidemic prevention campaign since the outbreak was first reported on 18^thJune. The first phase (between 18^th June and 3^rd July), the government promptly activating swift response mechanisms in the wake of the outbreak, as well as adopting a region-specific, multi-level approach to precise prevention and control. The authority also started conducting citywide nucleic acid testing programmes. During the second phase (between 4^th and 10^th July), the government carried out a two-day round of nucleic acid testing for the whole population in conjunction with the testing of key groups and with rapid antigen testing as well. 

In the third phase (between 11^th and 22^nd July), the government continued to conduct a high frequency nucleic acid testing programme for the whole population. Macao SAR Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng also issued an order which suspended all non-essential industrial and commercial activities and adopted “relatively static” control measures aimed at minimising non-essential activities in the city as much as possible between 11^th and 23^rd July.

Also in phase three, public sectors that do not provide emergency and essential services for daily life were closed, and a number of government departments issued “work permits” to people in the city who met certain conditions to cover any essential needs. Crowd control measures were also implemented in Macao’s markets and supermarkets.

Social operations gradually resume during “stabilisation period”

The number of positive COVID-19 cases has been dropping on an almost daily basis since 18^th July, exactly a month after the start of the local outbreak. This is in part thanks to Macao’s three-phase strategy. As a result, the city entered a “consolidation period” from midnight on 23^rd July to midnight on 2^nd August, meaning that it began gradually easing towards a level of normality in terms of social operations.

Some limitations on both essential and non-essential businesses are being eased over this “consolidation period” and industrial and commercial companies or organisations that are necessary for the maintenance of life in Macao have been allowed to operate normally. Some other industrial and commercial companies or organisations have been resuming limited operations subject to their compliance with health authority guidelines. All government departments have also been resuming limited public services.

Between 2^nd and 7^th August, Macao enters a “stabilisation period” and the state of immediate prevention was terminated at 12:00 noon on 2^nd August. Beauty salons, fitness centres and bars are among the businesses that can resume operations in this period. Restaurants are also allowed to resume dine-in operations. Establishments at which clients must remove their face masks are required to show a valid nucleic acid test certificate or negative nucleic acid test from within the past 3 days. Four key groups should conduct nucleic acid testing every day and those who go to work should take one of these tests every three days. During this “stabilisation period”, the public sector resumes normal operations. The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) also recommences its external services. The tourist information located in the Ritz Building in Senado Square, the Border Gate, Macau International Airport, The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Frontier Post at Macao Port and Qingmao Port all resume normal operations. The Macao Grand Prix Museum also open to the public. However, the “Stay, Dine and See Macao” local tour programme remains suspended until further announcement.

Timely and targeted measures to ease economical stress levels in Macao

When it comes to the impact of the epidemic on both the livelihoods of the people of Macao and on the local tourism economy, the government has introduced financial assistance measures to the tune of about MOP10 billion, helping to ease the economical stress levels of anyone who has suffered financial losses during this virus outbreak period (please refer here for details).

People from all walks of life join forces to fight against the epidemic

People from all walks of life in Macao have been working together in the battle against the spread of the virus. A total of 2,350 medical staff were deployed by the Health Bureau and local medical institutions to participate in the nucleic acid testing and sampling programmes. More than 500 local samplers have been recruited since the outbreak began, while 650 samplers from Mainland China were sent to support the programmes.

The MGTO has continued to coordinate with the Health Burau and tourism operators the supply of more hotel rooms for medical observation during the outbreak, and has been providing assistance to travellers who have been staying in Macao, such as making sure they have nucleic acid tests and reservations at hotels and quarantine hotels when they enter Mainland China. The tourism industry and other organisations in Macao have also supported the government’s efforts in all sorts of ways (please refer here for details).

Since the outbreak of this COVID-19 wave in June, several events in Macao have been postponed, including the 10^th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo previously scheduled for early July, and the 2022 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair has been rescheduled between 11^th and 13^th November, among others.

For the latest information on the COVID-19 situation in Macao, please visit www.ssm.gov.mo/PreventCOVID-19 and also see the MGTO’s announcements here www.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/article/notice/covid19-notice.