Addressing Monday’s press conference about Macao’s novel coronavirus situation, the Health Bureau’s (SSM) Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Department Coordinator Leong Iek Hou announced that from 6 am today, all those arriving in Macao from Hong Kong must present a nucleic acid test (NAT) certificate confirming that they have tested negative for Covid-19 within the past 72 hours, otherwise they will be refused entry.
Before today’s new measure, since 14 July, all those arriving in Macao from Hong Kong had had to present a NAT certificate confirming that they had tested negative for Covid-19 within the past seven days.
Leong said on Monday that the Macao government has decided to tighten the requirement for the NAT certificates presented by arrivals from Hong Kong – from seven days to 72 hours – after considering that Hong Kong’s Covid-19 epidemic is still serious.
Leong pointed out that all arrivals who have been in Hong Kong within 14 days prior to their entry into Macao must undergo 14 days of quarantine and medical observation at one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” – irrespective of their NAT certificate. The Macao government has implemented its 14-day quarantine on arrivals from Hong Kong since 25 March.
A statement by the Macao government last night about the new 72-hour NAT certificate measure said that the drivers of public transport vehicles travelling from Hong Kong to Macao should refuse passengers who fail to present the required NAT certificate when boarding the vehicles.
(The Macau Post Daily/Macau News)
