The six operators of casino-resorts in Macao have been given permission to set up stations at some of their properties to provide COVID-19 testing services. By early October, eight testing stations had been opened at integrated resorts.
The Macao SAR Government Health Bureau said procedures at the testing stations would meet the technical and safety standards established by the local authorities.
Since 15 July, anyone seeking entry onto a casino floor in Macao has been required to present a certificate from a nucleic acid test with a result that is negative for COVID-19. Patrons must also pass a body-temperature check and present a valid “green” Macao Health Code result before entry.
Testing at the city’s casino-resorts is carried out by China Certification & Inspection Group Macau Co. Ltd. The organisation is the current service provider to the Macao SAR Government.
A test from a station at a tourist complex costs MOP120 and the result may also be used as part of the health declaration system.
Aside from the newly set up testing stations at the casino-resorts, there are five officially designated centres for COVID-19 testing in Macao at this moment, which are located at the Macau Forum building, the Pac On Ferry Terminal, Conde de S. Januário General Hospital (for specific requests only), Kiang Wu Hospital, and Macau University of Science and Technology Hospital. The city’s overall testing capacity as of early October stood at 29,000 nucleic acid tests a day, which was considered to be enough to meet the needs of the public in Macao.
Macao has seen 46 confirmed COVID-19 patients since the beginning of the global pandemic. Some 44 cases were classified as imported and two were associated with imported cases. Each case has been released from medical care. Macao has had zero COVID-19-related deaths and zero infections among medical staff. As of end-October, no local case of COVID-19 infection had been detected in Macao for more than 200 days.