The yet to open Lisboeta Macau and the Sheraton Grand Macao will be utilized for both locals and non-residents to undergo their mandatory 14-day quarantine periods when returning from foreign countries as of 20 December 2020.
The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) revealed a new, more flexible quarantine policy on Monday, with those returning from Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries soon able to choose between the two hotels for their 14 days of quarantine.
It represents the third time this year that the Sheraton Grand has been designated as one of the SAR’s quarantine hotels while Lisboeta will welcome its first ever guests without having officially opened its doors. The non-gaming property, with 820 hotel rooms, was due to open alongside SJM’s Grand Lisboa Palace this year but both have been delayed until early 2021 due to COVID-19.
Anyone who chooses to stay in either of the two “optional hotels” will be required to cover their own expenses based on the type of room.
If Macau residents choose to not to stay in these hotels, they will assigned to one of six designated quarantine hotels currently in use: the Pousada Marina Infante Hotel, Golden Crown China Hotel, Treasure Hotel, Regency Art Hotel, Grand Coloane Resort or the Royal Dragon Hotel. Residents can quarantine in these hotels free of charge upon their first visit but must pay a fee of MOP$5,600 (US$700) for any subsequent stays.
Meanwhile, the SAR government said it expects a total of 1.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine would be able for residents next year. They include 400,000 doses already purchased from Beijing’s Sinopharm Group Co., Ltd and another 400,000 doses from BioNtech in Germany. The first batch of vaccines from Sinopharm and BioNtech are expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2021. Meanwhile, 200,000 doses reserved from “Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance” will arrive in the fourth quarter of next year.
The government has also purchased 400,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines which will arrive in 2Q21, however the vaccine is yet to be approved for use by any foreign governments.
