Mainlanders travelling on a family-visit permit via the Macao-Zhuhai checkpoint of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge or the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal (for the passenger ferry service with Zhuhai’s Wanzai) three or more times per day must now pay for a Covid-19 test on arrival.
Since Monday last week, all mainlanders holding a travel permit for visiting relatives who frequently enter Macao via the Barrier Gate or Qingmao checkpoints have had to take a MOP 70 nucleic acid test (NAT), despite holding a certificate confirming a valid negative Covid-19 result.
Currently, the negative Covid-19 NAT result for those entering Macao from Zhuhai is valid for 24 hours, while the negative result for those entering Zhuhai from Macao is valid for seven days.
Mainlanders holding travel permits for visiting relatives in Macao, which are issued by the authorities in the mainland, are allowed to commute between the two regions during their permitted stay in Macao.
The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre underlined that the local government’s special measure for mainlanders holding family-visit travel permits aims to reduce the Covid-19 risk to Macao resulting from the frequent crossing of the Macao-Zhuhai border.
Affected travellers must wait for their negative NAT results after having their swabs collected, before being allowed to enter Macao. The centre also noted that it may take up to 12 hours for the NAT results to be available after the travellers have their swabs collected. The negative result of such a compulsory test will not be displayed on the Macao Health Code, The Macau Post Daily reported.
