Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre says its border policies with mainland China and Hong Kong could be adjusted if the SAR does not report any new cases of COVID-19 by 31 August.
Macau reached 16 days without a new case on Thursday, having previously reported four cases on 3 August – a family whose members had recently returned from trips to Zhuhai. A mass testing blitz of all residents was subsequently called and multiple businesses shut down, however all tests returned negative results. Business operations reopened this week, as did certain areas of Macau previously placed into lockdown.
The validity period of negative COVID-19 virus tests needed to cross the border between Macau and Guangdong Province, which had been shortened to 12 hours when the outbreak happened, has also been extended back to 48 hours.
Although Hong Kong cancelled its quarantine exemption policy for Hong Kong residents returning from Macau, officials of the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre said Thursday that if Macau did not find any new cases for another 14 days – which is 31 August – neighboring regions may also readjust their border policies with Macau.
However, there is still no word on when or if a previously mooted “blue health code” system that would allow visitors from Hong Kong to enter Macau without quarantining will be implemented.
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