The operating hours of the Gongbei border gate and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) returned to normal over the weekend, with Macau’s health officials revealing new border measures will be launched within “a few days.”
While all current border restrictions remained in place as of Sunday, there are several signals suggesting those between Macau and Zhuhai are on the verge of being loosened.
Both the border gate and the HZMB shortened their daily operating times in January as part of preventive measures against COVID-19. On Sunday, they returned to normal with the border gate now open from 6am to 1am and the passenger building of HZMB from 8am to 10pm.
Macau also launched a new “health code system” on Sunday, requiring anyone entering Macau to answer questions about any symptoms, contact and travel histories related to COVID-19.
Each person will then be declared as either “green, red or yellow,” with green indicating the declarant is not at risk of contracting COVID-19 and is permitted to enter. Anyone with fever, acute cough or shortness of breath will be issued a yellow code which will allow them entry but require self-health management. Entry will be denied to anyone issued red which is an indication of links to COVID-19.
However, Macau’s current health code system is not mutually recognized alongside the health code system already in use in mainland China.
Officials of the Health Bureau noted that new border measures would be announced in the coming days when all supporting measures are in place, potentially a significant first step for Macau’s gaming operators and other businesses on their road to recovery.
Meanwhile, high schools in Macau resume on Monday. All teachers must undergo COVID-19 virus tests before going back to their positions, while the Zhuhai government will exempt “cross-border” students – those studying in Macau but living in Zhuhai – from mandatory 14-day quarantine.
As of Sunday, 39 COVID-19 patients had recovered in Macau with six still in hospital. The city has not recorded any new COVID-19 cases for 25 days.
