Macao residents who are planning to participate in large gatherings are being urged by the local health authorities to take a rapid antigen test (RAT) beforehand, TDM reports.
In a weekend interview with the local broadcaster, the head of the Health Bureau’s Division of Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases (also known by its Portuguese initials CDCP), Leong Iek Hou, said Covid-19 cases were on the rise.
“Last month, only 3 in every [respiratory] 100 patients were infected with Covid-19,” she said. “But now the number is about 11 in every 100 patients.”
According to Health Bureau data reported by TDM, there were 228 Covid cases between 5 and 11 January.
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Leong noted that the risk of catching diseases would be greater with the organisation of large-scale events during the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday. She urged Macao residents to adopt preventive measures such as taking a RAT.
The CDCP head also stated that her department had purchased approximately 10,000 doses of the XBB vaccine for children aged 12 or under. They are expected to arrive by the end of January and will be ready for administration by February.
Leong noted that Macao’s vaccination rate has been “ideal,” with a total of 164,000 people receiving a shot since September 2023.
