The number of new Covid-19 infections in Macao has dropped to 29 new cases in the past 24 hours, three cases less than the previous day (12 July) and a steep decrease compared to the 59 and 57 new cases registered on 10 and 11 July, respectively.
Macao’s total number of Covid-19 cases now stands at 1,644, as of midnight last night. Among the new cases, 26 were found under management and control in Red Code Zones and medical observation hotels, while three were found in the community, according to the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre.
As of 8 am today, a total of 20,175 people are under follow up, which include 3,151 close contacts, 11,145 individuals with overlapping itineraries, 948 secondary contacts, 254 general contacts and 767 accompanying persons.
In addition, a total of 13 batches of pooled samples from the 8th round of citywide nucleic acid testing (NAT) that ended yesterday have tested positive, while the rest of the total 665,385 samples were negative.
According to data released by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre, the number of infections found in the community has been decreasing over the past few citywide mass NATs and key groups’ testings.
Although the number of positive batches of pooled samples saw some increases from the 1st to 4th rounds of the mass NATs (34 – 72 – 50 – 94), it has decreased to 41, 23, 17 and 13 (5th – 8th rounds).
The centre said that the decreases show that “continuous mass testings are effective and can facilitate early detection, isolation and treatment for infected persons”, particularly with the incubation period, “it is not possible to identify all infected person with a single nucleic acid test”.
Meanwhile, the 9th mass NAT began at 9 am today and will conclude at 6 pm tomorrow. Each person will be given 10 KN95 face masks during the current mass testing.
Those who have yet to book for their tests can make appointments on this link.
People who fail to undergo the test by 6 pm tomorrow will be assigned a yellow health code and taken by the police to a designated venue to do the test. Those who refuse to do the test will be subject to the 14-day mandatory medical observation.
Everyone must take a rapid antigen test (RAT) before going to the testing centres and upload the result onto the Macao Health Code. Only those with negative results can enter the testing centres, while people whose RAT results are positive must immediately call for an ambulance by contacting 119, 120 or 2857 2222.
