Macao registered just five new Covid-19 cases in the past day, bringing the total number of cases to 1,800 as of midnight last night, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced.
All new cases were found under management and control in Red Code Zones and medical observation hotels.
As of 8 am today, a total of 22,525 individuals are currently under follow up, including 3,518 close contacts, 12,215 people with overlapping itineraries, 1,340 secondary contacts, 256 general contacts and 783 accompanying persons.
Meanwhile, only one batch of pooled samples was found positive in the 12th round of citywide nucleic acid testing (NAT), which concluded yesterday – only one individual tested positive in the follow up tests while the rest of the 669,234 samples collected have tested negative.
The mass testing has seen a decrease in the number of positive batches since the 94 batches of pooled samples found positive in the 4th round. It went down to 41, 23, 17, 13, 9, 5, 2 and 1 (5th – 12th rounds).
The 13th Citywide NAT began at 8 am today and will end at 7 pm tomorrow. Ten KN95 face masks and five rapid antigen test (RAT) kits are distributed to everyone during the current mass NAT.
Prior to taking the NAT, everyone must undergo a self-administered RAT and upload the result online. Only those with negative RAT results will be allowed to enter the NAT centres, while people whose results are positive must immediately contact 119, 120 or 2857 2222 for assistance.
In related news, all Philippine passport holders – including Macao residents – and residents in some key areas have been included in the mandatory daily NAT starting today. Those required to do daily tests do not need to do another test as part of the Citywide NAT programme.
