All individuals arriving in Macau from South Korea must undergo a mandatory 14-day medical surveillance as the government on Wednesday heightened its response to the growing number of confirmed Coronavirus cases within South Korea.
The latest restriction applies not only to tourists and non-resident workers from South Korea, but also residents returning to Macau who have spent any time in South Korea in the last 14 days. This represents a rapid escalation by authorities who had implemented on Monday a less stringent six to eight hour medical testing and observation period for arrivals from South Korea
Tourists showing no symptoms will be sent to the Pousada Marina Infante Hotel for a 14-day medical surveillance, which will also incur fees of MOP$5,600. Alternatively they can opt not to enter Macau. However, if tourists have visited any known high-prevalence areas in South Korea, they will be sent to quarantine wards with stricter medical observations.
According to the Macau government, at least five tourists from South Korea have already refused to cooperate with the new requirements and returned to mainland China instead.
Confirmed cases in South Korea reached 1,260 on Wednesday, with more than 100 new cases being detected daily.
That’s in stark contrast to Macau, where the number of confirmed cases has held steady at 10. Seven of those patients from Wuhan city have now fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital.
Following the “soft” re-opening of casinos last Thursday, public services in government sectors and various local businesses in the dining and retail fields have slowly resumed this week as the epidemic has come under control in the city.
But several entertainment venues such as pubs, bars, Karaoke, nightclubs and gyms are not yet allowed to resume operations with the Health Bureau stating it continues to evaluate risk and prepare guidelines to avoid mass gatherings.
