Last week, Macao announced an easing of quarantine rules for overseas arrivals, to five days of hotel quarantine plus three days of home isolation, while ending the routine testing of visitors from China and no longer locking down entire buildings when a confirmed case is discovered.
Macao has retained an open border with the neighbouring Chinese city of Zhuhai throughout the pandemic, although movement has been constrained by requirements for permits and testing, and other restrictions. Many people work and live on both sides of the border and commute daily.
The former Portuguese colony, home to more than 600,000 people, has recorded just over 900 COVID-19 cases since 2020 and six deaths.
Macao Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao said last week that up to 80 per cent of the city’s population would likely get COVID-19 following a significant easing of pandemic isolation and testing rules.
The densely packed hub has only one public hospital and an already overburdened healthcare system. Officials have urged residents not to worry about contracting the virus since most cases involve mild or no symptoms.
Source: CNA
