Addressing Monday’s weekly press conference about Macao’s novel coronavirus situation, Alvis Lo Iek Long, a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, underlined that foreigners who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 will remain barred from entering Macao, as it doesn’t necessarily mean that those who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 will not be infected with the novel coronavirus or possibly infect others.
Lo pointed out that those who have had Covid-19 jabs still have the probability of being infected with the novel coronavirus reduced by 80 to 90 per cent, which does not mean that they won’t be infected with the disease. Lo said that those who have had Covid-19 shots could still possibly be infected with the disease but will not develop any symptoms, adding that therefore the possibility of them infecting others with the disease could not be ruled out.
“According to the latest scientific evidence, we cannot ensure that those who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 will not spread the novel coronavirus, even though they do not develop any symptoms – i.e. they are asymptomatic carriers of the virus,” Lo said.
Foreign nationals without a Macao ID card have been barred from entering the city since March 18. Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan residents who have been to a foreign country within the past 21 days are also barred from entering Macao.
Those who have been to a foreign country or Hong Kong within the past 21 days must undergo 21 days of quarantine and medical observation at a quarantine hotel upon arrival. Those who have been to Taiwan within the past 14 days must undergo 14 days of medical observation at one of the quarantine hotels upon arrival.
Those arriving from the mainland have to present a nucleic acid test (NAT) certificate confirming that they have tested negative for Covid-19 within the past seven days. However, those who have been in an area in the mainland where new local Covid-19 cases have recently been confirmed also need to undergo 14 days of quarantine upon arrival.
Lo underlined that Macao’s current entry restriction and quarantine measures will remain in force, although those from Covid-19 “high-risk” areas have started to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
This means that residents who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 returning from overseas must still undergo 21 days of medical observation at one of Macao’s quarantine hotels.
A total of 1,714 people were in hotel quarantine on Monday, according to the press conference.
(The Macau Post Daily/Macao News)
Photo by Government Information Bureau (GCS)
