The government has relaxed the minimum number of guests attending banquets and other lunch and dinner gatherings that require all staff and guests to be compulsorily tested for Covid-19 from 200 to 400.
According to the new version of the Health Bureau (SSM) guidelines, guests and staff at banquets and other lunch and dinner gatherings with over 400 guests organised by public entities, private organisations and community associations must present a seven-day nucleic acid test (NAT) certificate confirming a negative Covid-19 result, regardless of whether they have been fully inoculated against the novel coronavirus or not.
Fully-vaccinated guests and staff at banquets with over 400 guests must present an NAT certificate confirming a negative Covid-19 result valid for seven days, provided that the negative Covid-19 NAT result for those commuting between Macao and Zhuhai is valid for seven days.
Guests and staff who have not been fully inoculated must present a negative Covid-19 result valid for just 48 hours.
In case the negative Covid-19 NAT result for those commuting between Macao and Zhuhai is valid for just 48 hours or even shorter, fully-vaccinated guests and staff must hold a negative Covid-19 result valid for 48 hours, while those who have not been fully inoculated must show a negative Covid-19 result valid for just 24 hours.
Currently, the negative Covid-19 NAT result for those commuting between the two cities is valid for seven days.
The SSM emphasised that the organisers of banquets with fewer than 400 guests should “encourage” guests and staff to test themselves for Covid-19 with a rapid antigen kit shortly before attending. Alternatively, the organisers can decide themselves whether to require guests and staff to present a NAT certificate confirming a negative Covid-19 result after assessing the risk of the possible Covid-19 spread.
The guidelines also advise anyone who has not yet received their Covid-19 booster jab not to attend banquets, The Macau Post Daily reported.
