The Macao government has lifted its 14-day quarantine requirement for all non-resident workers from the mainland.
The Macao Government Information Bureau (GCS) announced the lifting of the quarantine, which was imposed on non-resident workers from the mainland in February, in a statement on Saturday. The measure took effect on Sunday.
An executive order signed by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng on the quarantine lifting was published in the Official Gazette (BO) on Saturday.
Under the now-defunct quarantine measure, which was in force between 20 February and Saturday, non-resident workers who had been in the mainland within 14 days prior to their intended entry into Macao had to go into quarantine and medical observation for 14 days in Zhuhai and then obtain a health certificate issued by the Zhuhai health authorities confirming that they had not been infected with the novel coronavirus before they were allowed to enter Macao.
The 14-day quarantine requirement imposed on mainland non-resident workers by the Macao government was carried out in collaboration with its Zhuhai counterpart. Under the measure, those who intended to enter Macao but could not obtain the required health certificate issued by Zhuhai – for instance those who arrived in Macao by air – had to undergo the 14-day quarantine in Macao.
The quarantine requirement imposed on mainland non-resident workers was first jointly relaxed by the Zhuhai and Macao governments on 11 May. Since then non-resident workers holding a Zhuhai ID card or residence permit have been exempted from the quarantine measure so that they can commute between the two cities. The quarantine waiver granted to mainland non-resident workers employed in Macao was extended on 22 June to all those living in Zhuhai and commuting between the two cities – for which they need to obtain an official confirmation from the Zhuhai authorities that they have their habitual residence there.
Foreign non-resident workers are still barred from entering Macao.
Saturday’s GCS statement said that starting from 6 am on Sunday, the Macao government lifted the quarantine that was imposed on “non-resident workers who are mainland residents” on 20 February.
Saturday’s statement did not elaborate on whether non-resident workers who are Hong Kong or Taiwan residents commuting between Macao and Zhuhai are covered by the lifting of the quarantine on Sunday – i.e. non-resident workers from Hong Kong or Taiwan employed in Macao and living in Zhuhai. In accordance with the “One China” policy, Taiwan and Hong Kong people are Chinese compatriots, not foreigners.
Saturday’s statement pointed out that the non-resident workers have to present a valid nucleic acid test (NAT) certificate confirming that they have tested negative for COVID-19 within the past seven days and their green Macao Health Code when entering Macao.
(The Macau Post Daily/Macau News)
PHOTO © The Macau Post Daily
