Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre has announced it will start unlocking parts of the city previously designated as red and yellow coded zones as fears over the spread of COVID-19 following a recent outbreak ease.
The zones were put in place after four construction workers tested positive to COVID-19 earlier this month, with “red” districts considered the highest risk and subject to a closed-loop management system whereby residents are unable to leave and must undergo a total of three tests. Some people may also be transferred to a quarantine facility for observation.
Yellow zones require residents to undergo a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of being advised, to self-monitor for 14 days and to remain in Macau.
The recent cases saw three residential blocks and a grocery store classified as red zones and five residential blocks as yellow zones, however health authorities said Thursday that these areas would be released from lockdowns between 15 and 18 October pending all residents returning a negative result on their final test.
Those who were transferred to a hotel for medical observation from a red code zone will also be released from quarantine at the corresponding time.
The likely lifting of lockdown zones represents another step forward for Macau, which saw strict border restrictions put in place late last month requiring anyone entering Zhuhai from Macau to undergo 14 days of mandatory hotel quarantine. Those restrictions are still in place.
A range of public entertainment venues across Macau also remain closed, including cinemas, theaters, indoor amusement parks, video game arcades, internet cafes, billiard and bowling rooms, sauna and massage establishments, beauty salons, gyms, health clubs, karaoke establishments, bars, nightclubs, discos, dance halls and cabarets.
However, SJM’s Casino Oceanus, which was closed for cleaning after being visited by a positive case, reopened earlier this week and no further positive cases have been detected since a third round of mass COVID-19 testing for all people in Macau was completed.
No COVID-19 fatalities have occurred in Macau since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020.
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