The Macau government announced today that only residents from the Hubei province who have a medical certificate stating that they are not infected with coronovirus will be allowed to enter Macau. The measure takes effect from the 27th January onwards at 00:00.
From that time on, residents of the Hubei province who have been in the Chinese province over the last 14 days will also not be allowed to enter Macau casinos.
The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ao Ieong U revealed that 1,113 residents from Hubei are currently in Macau and that as of Monday they will all be contacted to ascertain their health status. According to official data, 676 visitors from the Hubei province and Wuhan city are staying in Macau’s hotels.
Between 22-25 January, 5,242 residents of the Hubei province entered Macau, about half from the city of Wuhan. If they have not been affected, they can leave Macau, otherwise they will be taken to an isolation center until it is confirmed that they have no health problems and can leave the territory. This will be a mandatory measure that cannot be refused by visitors.
It was also announced that as of Monday, the entry of visitors from Hubei and the city of Wuhan will be made through special immigration channels and the use of automatic entrances will not be allowed.
Meanwhile the Secretary for Administration and Justice, André Cheong Weng Chou said that there was no decision made regarding the closing of the city’s casinos and the borders.
In any case, the government announced a reduction in the opening times of the Portas do Cerco border, which ceases to be open 24 hours a day and will only open from 06.00 to 22.00.
The borders of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge, maritime terminals of Macau and Taipa and the borders for Hengqin and Wanzai remain open.
The new measures were announced today after it was confirmed that Macau now has a total of 5 cases. The government also announced that patients staying at the government hospital will no longer be allowed to receive visitors and only video conferences between patients and visitors will be allowed.
The government has already ordered the closure of schools and universities until at least the 10th of February, closed the libraries, canceled all parties related to the Chinese New Year and asked residents and visitors not to go to cinemas or closed places of events, wear masks on public transports and when moving around the city.
