Macao faces its third round of mass-testing today and tomorrow as the current wave of Covid-19 ramps up another notch.
Staff at 61 testing stations will be working from Monday 9 am (27 June) until 6 pm on Tuesday (28 June) as the city tries to contain the novel coronavirus after cases leapt to 299 as of 4 pm yesterday. Those who fail to get tested in time will see their Health Code turn yellow.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U warned residents to stay at home as much as possible, and to take a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) before undergoing a Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) in their local areas. She said the virus is spreading swiftly through the community, having sprung up in Avenida Horta e Costa and then moved to the north of the peninsula.
Health Director Alvis Lo told members of the public to bring reusable bags to collect KN95 masks and five RATs, which are being handed out free. He added that pharmacies set the price RAT kits (around MOP 39 at Mannings), but the government would check the situation.
Under recently introduced new classifications, 13 zones are now fully locked down (Red Code zone) and there are 51 precautionary Yellow Zones across the city.
[Click here to access our Google Map of all the city’s Red and Yellow zones]
Of the 261 cases recorded as of 00:00 26 June, 195 were asymptomatic and 66 were symptomatic, meaning 74.7 per cent of positive cases were asymptomatic. Patients are mainly female (158) compared to 103 males, and range from an eight-month-old baby to an 89-year-old.
While most of the city’s casinos are deserted at present, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng stated at a press conference on 23 June that, in order to protect local jobs, casinos do not need to close.
As part of Covid-19 precautions, anybody entering a casino must have a NAT every 48 hours. All employees must take a RAT before each shift and customer-facing staff must wear a KN95 or N95 mask at all times (NATs, RATs and mask expenses to be borne by gaming operators) as of Wednesday. Employees have also been encouraged to avoid taking public transportation and drive to work instead.
Nearly 5,000 people are currently in quarantine, comprising 3,333 Macao residents, 631 non-locals and 881 tourists.
So far, the Health Bureau (SSM) has identified 10 clusters, seven of which are related. Patient Zero has still not been identified.
The clusters are as follows:
– Yim Lai building: 102
– Tat Cheong building: 70
– Tim Fung Cleaning service co.: 11
– OD Health Club: 3
– International Centre: 2
– Female staff changing room at Shoppes at Four Seasons (including Edifício Comercial Chong Kin): 17
– City of Dreams construction site: 4
– Va Fai Kok: 8
– Ng Iap restaurant + Avenida da Longevidade 51, Edifício Son Lei + Galaxy construction site: 10 (related to Tat Cheong)
– Edifício Comandante Pinto Ribeiro: 14 (related to Yim Lai)
