Health officials in Macao have given up the search for the source of the Covid-19 Omicron variant outbreak which has bedevilled the city for most of the past month, and are now concentrating on breaking the virus transmission chains. Depending on the results of this week’s mass-testing, even stricter measures might be introduced in future.
Today, the fourth day of Macao’s partial lockdown, witnessed the fifth death from Covid-19 related reasons – a double-vaccinated 86-year-old woman – and 1,644 positive cases.
Lei Wai Seng, clinical director of the Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, said she lived in Fai Fu building, had received two Sinopharm vaccinations but suffered from severe kidney problems and dementia. She died late this morning.
At the daily Covid-19 briefing, Leong Iek Hou, Head of the Health Bureau’s Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Division, said: “We are no longer looking for Patient Zero who is responsible for the spread of the virus in Macao. It’s very difficult to find. Now we are trying to cut the transmission chains of the virus.
“We will wait for the results of the 10th round of mass-testing before we consider our next move. If we cease the present measures, we would probably need to introduce others, such as more nucleic acid tests for the workforce.”
On the whole, the Covid-19 situation appeared marginally better today. While three new clusters were discovered, 43 patients were released from hospital, having been treated successfully. This brings the total number of people released since the 18 June outbreak to 251. The eighth round of mass-testing found 11 confirmed cases, five of whom belong to key groups such as food and beverage workers and security guards.
On the minus side, a dozen patients are receiving different levels of oxygen therapy, and 25,812 people are locked down in Red Code Zones. Just over 3,000 are confined to medical observation hotels.
Authorities have continued to crack down on residents who fail to heed emergency regulations.
Unitary Police Services public relations officer Cheong Kin Ian said that by 3 pm 505 residents had been issued with a warning so far today – 25 were found running in the streets and the others were not wearing masks.
