From Monday onwards, people will only need to show their Macao Health Codes at government departments, medical institutions, social service institutions, non-tertiary schools and educational institutions. Health codes must still be shown at schools and nurseries while students and teachers will have to take a rapid antigen test (RAT) every week.
The showing of QR codes at casinos, restaurants and bars, buses and all other locations will be at the establishment’s discretion. Venues will also have the autonomy to decide whether to allow people with red (confirmed Covid-19 case) or yellow health (close contacts) codes to enter the premises.
However, if red and yellow code holders enter the venue, special arrangements must be made to reduce the time they spend in the venue and the number of people they come in contact with.
Local health authorities have also increased the limit on the number of people attending gatherings. If there are 300 or more people participating in an event, all staff members and participants must hold a 24-hour nucleic acid test (NAT) result or a RAT result taken on the day.
According to the Health Bureau, festivals as well as cultural, entertainment and sports activities can have a maximum of 75 per cent occupancy, with members of the audience no longer required to be vaccinated or show a NAT result. Performers who cannot wear masks due to the nature of the event, however, are required to show a 24-hour NAT result or a RAT result taken on the day.
At today’s Covid-19 press conference, Alvis Lo, Director of the Health Bureau, emphasised once again that 80 per cent of people in Macao will catch Covid-19 but 90 per cent of these will only experience mild symptoms.
“In relation to opening up to Hong Kong, as soon as we have measures regarding travel arrangements between Macao and Hong Kong, we will announce them,” Lo said.
Macao confirmed 85 new Covid-19 cases yesterday with 82 of them found in the community. In total, there have been 231 confirmed cases since 28 November.
