Anyone taking part in the government’s summer activities in July and August will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 at least 14 days prior, or face being tested every seven days.
Luís Gomes, acting chief of the Non-Tertiary Education Department of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), said that the government decided to roll out the jab-or-test measure for summer activity participants in the wake of the latest Covid-19 developments in neighbouring regions.
As well as participants in the government’s annual summer activities, which are jointly organised by the Education and Youth Development Bureau and the Sports Bureau (ID), the new measure will also cover those attending extracurricular classes run by the Education and Youth Development Bureau’s various activity centres.
According to Gomes, participants will have to display a Macao Health Code confirming that they have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 at least 14 days prior, meaning they must have developed basic full immunity, when they attend their first class. Those who have not been fully inoculated will have to present a nucleic acid test (NAT) certificate confirming a negative Covid-19 result valid for seven days when attending every class.
In addition, Gomes said, the jab-or-test measure will also cover all those accompanying the participants during the activities, such as their parents.
Gomes also announced that from the start of the new school year of 2022/23, all athletes taking part in inter-school sports competitions will be required to have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 at least 14 days prior. Gomes said that his bureau will announce details of the measure before September. He did not mention whether athletes who have not been fully vaccinated will be allowed to participate in inter-school sports competitions by presenting an NAT certificate confirming a negative Covid-19 result.
In related news, 87.3 per cent of Macao’s residents have been vaccinated against Covid-19 at least once, The Macau Post Daily reported.
According to the latest figures from the Health Bureau, the jab rates by age group are as follows:
3-11: 61.2 per cent
12-19: 80.3 per cent
20-29: 96.4 per cent
30-49: 99.9 per cent
50-59: 93.6 per cent
