Tougher Macao Health Code regulations are now in force as the city battles a severe threat caused by Guangdong’s ongoing novel coronavirus transmissions.
People without a smartphone may no longer make an oral health declaration before entering certain premises, a government spokesman announced. Instead, electronic devices have to be available at the respective premises for those without a smartphone to generate their Macao Health Code.
And anyone with a yellow or red Macao Health Code is strictly barred from entering a wide range of public venues and using any form of public transport. Bus drivers, cabbies and LRT staff may now check passengers’ Macao Health Code, and refuse service to anyone not wearing a mask.
Patrons require a green Macao Health Code to enter all restaurants and eateries in the city.
The Health Bureau’s (SSM) Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Coordinator Leong Iek Hou announced that guidelines for operators of various kinds of premises have been revised, requiring them to check the Macao Health Code of all those entering. Leong said that her bureau has decided to toughen the guidelines, which took effect yesterday, due to the latest Covid-19 developments in neighbouring cities.
From now on operators of casinos, hotels and guesthouses and those in charge of border checkpoints and medical institutions “must” require all those entering their premises to present their Macao Health Code, while those in charge of public administration premises, shopping centres, restaurants and other kinds of eateries as well as pubs “should” require all those entering their premises to present their health code.
Leong said that operators of certain premises can decide whether to require those entering the premises to present their Macao Health Code. These include wet markets, large supermarkets, karaoke bars, hair salons, gyms, health clubs, beauty salons, ballrooms, public saunas, massage parlours, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, snooker parlours, cybercafés, cinemas, theatres, museums, exhibition halls, libraries, sports pavilions and swimming pools.
Leong said that such premises also include service points of any particular entities where customers are expected to need to stay for at least 20 minutes.
Anyone entering general retail outlets, such as small-scale supermarkets and convenience stores, is not required to present their Macao Health Code, as these kinds of premises normally have a smaller flow of people and their customers are expected to stay there for a short period of time.
Under the new regulations, anyone without a smartphone can present the print version of their Macao Health Code valid on the day they enter the respective premises.
However, operators of the various premises are required to provide electronic devices for those without a smartphone who have not printed their Macao Health Code.
She added that operators of any of the premises should refuse entry to anyone with a yellow Macao Health Code.
However, Leong said that, if anyone with a yellow health code urgently needed the service provided by the respective premises, their operators can allow them to enter but staff should serve them quickly and carry out disinfection measures afterwards.
If the holder of a yellow Macao Health Code is an employee who works in the respective premises, he or she can enter the premises after submitting a medical certificate confirming that they have not been infected with Covid-19. However, Leong said, operators of the premises can still decide whether to allow them to enter – despite the fact that the employee has submitted such a certificate, The Macau Daily Post reported.
