Macao will press ahead with its “10+7” quarantine model, while examining the possibility of reducing it to “7+7”, Leong Iek Hou, who heads the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Division of the Health Bureau (SSM), has announced.
Leong said the model of 10 days’ hotel quarantine for observation plus seven days’ self-health monitoring for arrivals from Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries had been deemed suitable after having studied various countries and regions’ experience in their implementation of hotel quarantine and research data worldwide, which indicate the relatively short incubation of the Omicron variant.
The new “10+7” arrangement started on Wednesday. Previously, hotel quarantine lasted 14 days. Under the “10+7” measure, those practising their seven-day post-quarantine self-health monitoring have a green Macao Health Code, which means that they can commence their normal daily lives in the community after completing their 10-day hotel quarantine. However, they are required to undergo five Covid-19 nucleic acid tests (NATs), on the first, second, fourth, sixth and last day.
Leong said that those undergoing their 10-day hotel quarantine are required to take seven NATs, on the first, second, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and last day.
Leong noted that the five Covid-19 nucleic acid tests required for the seven-day period of self-health monitoring should enable SSM staff to detect “very rare” cases that have a relatively long incubation, as early as possible.
Consequently, Leong said, the new “10+7” measure aims to strike a balance between Covid-19 prevention and shortened hotel quarantine.
Leong also underlined that the Macao government would only consider the possibility of rolling out a “7+7” model after the “10+7” model has been implemented for a suitable length of time. Leong said that the government would study whether Macao could implement a “7+7” model after summarising its own experience from the ongoing implementation of the “10+7” model, such as whether it will raise the level of Covid-19 risk to Macao.
Leong said that the government is aware that some residents want a shorter hotel quarantine period, but others would rather Macao had a relatively long period as they believe that it would ensure a higher level of protection against Covid-19.
Leong also said that the Macao government would consider purchasing Covid-19 vaccines that have been successfully developed specifically for Omicron in the future.
Leong admitted that with the constant mutations of the novel coronavirus, Covid-19 vaccines’ ability to prevent infection has been dropping. But she added that research data worldwide have “certainly” indicated that a booster jab can provide high protection of up to 90 per cent against a serious condition or even death.
Leong also reaffirmed that those who have been fully inoculated with inactivated vaccines can have an even higher level of protection if they choose a vaccine of another kind for their booster jab.
Macao’s Covid-19 death toll remains at zero. Its tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases amounted to 83 yesterday, when its number of asymptomatic cases stood at 191.
Macao is among just nine countries and territories in the world that have zero Covid-19 fatalities. A total of 228 countries and territories have been affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic, The Macau Post Daily reported.
