Starting at 7 am this Friday, anyone entering a casino in Macao must have a 48-hour validated negative result for a nucleic acid test (NAT).
In addition, casino staff must also present a 48-hour NAT and a daily rapid antigen test (RAT), according to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ). The DICJ said this is in line with the Health Bureau’s measures to reduce the risk of Covid-19 virus transmission in casinos and other public places during the outbreak. The gaming operators are required to pay for their employees’ NATs and RAT kits.
According to a local media report, the government initially stipulated that this measure would take effect from today, but later announced that it would only come into force from 7 am on Friday.
As a result, numerous casino staff queued for an NAT yesterday, potentially increasing the likelihood of the spread of the virus, the report noted.
The gaming regulator said that it would continue to step up its inspections of casino operators’ pandemic prevention measures, and would also urge the operators to ensure the implementation of all necessary pandemic prevention measures to protect the health of their customers and employees. Employees are also advised to avoid taking public transportation and, instead, drive to work, if possible.
Starting today, the government will also adopt stricter pandemic prevention and control measures for all construction sites and suspend their operations if any worker on a site is found to have been infected with the novel coronavirus, the Public Works Bureau (DSOP) and the Land and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) have announced.
The DSOP and DSSCU also said that all the construction workers must have a 48-hour validated NAT negative result, as well as undergo an RAT every day that they work. After testing negative, their RAT result must be uploaded to the government’s reporting platform, after which the workers can enter the construction sites.
According to the two bureaus, workers whose RAT comes up with a positive result must report their case to the Fire Services Bureau, and anyone living in the same accommodation will not be allowed to leave their homes.
