The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced tonight the city’s 32nd and 33rd novel coronavirus cases, both of which are imported.
The 32nd patient is a 31-year-old male who works as a bakery storekeeper and lives in Edificio Chi Lok on Rua de Fernao Mendes Pinto at 1A (Macau peninsula).
The 33rd patient is a 37-year-old female who works as a hotel cleaner and lives in Edificio Weng Luen on 14 Patio da Eterna Uniao at 1M (Macau peninsula).
The two friends, both from the Philippines, took Cathay Pacific flight CX930 (seats 49D and 49E) from Manila, Philippines, to the Hong Kong International Airport on March 17. They then took the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge to Macau.
They were required to undergo home quarantine and medical observation for 14 days in accordance with the measures at the time. Both were asymptomatic when entering the city, with normal temperatures.
They did not go to work or go out during the isolation period and stayed in separate rooms to avoid contact with other people. The two tested positive in their preliminary nucleic acid testing on March 26 via throat saliva samples. Both were then sent by ambulance to the Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre for a throat swab test, which confirmed they had the novel coronavirus. Both are currently in normal condition.
The 32nd patient developed mild cough and nasal congestion on March 24. The 33rd patient, who is asymptomatic, is now in the isolation ward of the Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre.
Their co-residents are classified as close contacts and have been arranged to undergo special viral and nucleic acid tests at Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre, followed by medical observation at designated hotels.
Macau’s 33 confirmed COVID-19 cases includes 10 patients – seven tourists from Wuhan and three locals – who have been discharged from hospital. The other 23 cases, all of them imported, have been confirmed since March 15.
Macau’s first novel coronavirus case was registered on January 22.
