Alvis Lo Iek Long, a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, reassured residents during Monday’s press conference that holding the Macau Grand Prix this year would “certainly” not increase the risk of local Covid-19 transmission in the city.
Lo underlined that the local government has always adhered to its Covid-19 prevention and control principle of guarding against imported cases and a rebound in locally transmitted cases.
Lo underlined that all racers and their team members from Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as foreign countries will have to present a NAT certificate confirming that they have tested negative for Covid-19 before they can enter Macao. The racers will then have to undergo 14 days of quarantine and medical observation at one of the government’s “quarantine hotels” upon their arrival here, adding that during the 14-day quarantine period, each of them will have to undergo at least two nucleic acid tests. The racers will only be allowed to take part if they have not been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease during the quarantine period, Lo underlined.
Lo said that consequently the worst scenario would be that some of the racers are diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease during their 14-day quarantine period under the local government’s “hotel quarantine plus NAT” model. Therefore, Lo said that this would not increase the risk of local Covid-19 transmission in the city, and would not be an additional burden on its medical system.
Lo said that concerning the local government’s guarding against a rebound in locally transmitted cases, it would strictly carry out three major Covid-19 prevention measures during the upcoming Macau Grand Prix, namely 1) all spectators will have to present their Macao Health Code and undergo a temperature check at the entrances, 2) the spectators will have to stick to social distancing and always wear a facemask, and 3) the government will set up medical stations in various areas alongside the racetrack to tackle various possible medical situations.
Lo underlined that the local government will carry out its Covid-19 prevention work during the upcoming Macau Grand Prix in line with the “highest possible standards”.
Meanwhile, from this week the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre will reschedule its regular press conferences to only every Monday, a change from the hitherto two press conferences per week every Monday and Thursday, as Macao’s Covid-19 epidemic has been constantly easing. In journalese, press conferences are known as “pressers”.
NAT posts next to casinos
Meanwhile, Lo confirmed that eight NAT posts have been set up next to casinos run by the city’s six gaming operators. Lo said that the eight posts are run by Kuok Kim (Macau) Hygiene Examination Co Ltd, a third-party testing institution commissioned by the local government to carry out Covid-19 testing under its NAT scheme.
Lo underlined that the eight NAT posts are a cooperation programme between Kuok Kim and the six gaming operators, which aims to make it more convenient for gamblers to undergo a nucleic acid test. According to Lo, only sampling is carried out in the eight NAT posts, while the laboratory testing is carried out in Kuok Kim’s premises.
Lo said that the Health Bureau (SSM) has given its approval for Kuok Kim to set up the eight NAT posts next to casinos, after confirming that the sampling for Covid-19 testing carried out there is in line with its safety standards. The results of the NAT tests carried out at the eight posts will be displayed on the users’ Macao Health Code, Lo said.
(The Macau Post Daily/Macau News)
PHOTO © Government Information Bureau (GCS)
