The Macao SAR Government has ordered the closure of all commercial and industrial businesses, including casinos, for the next week, with limited exceptions for “essential services.”
According to information provided by the Secretary for Administration and Justice, André Cheong Weng Chon at a 5pm press conference today (Saturday), all establishments other than those providing “essential services” will cease operations from midnight at the start of 11 July to midnight at the start of 18 July.
Cheong confirmed that all casinos are included in the list of places to close.
“Supermarkets will continue to open, and daily necessities for citizens lives will not be affected, including buses and supermarkets, but other industrial and commercial activities need to be closed,” he said.
However, Director of the Macau Transport Bureau (DSAT), Kelvin Lam Hin San, said that bus trips across Macau will be limited to under 3,000 per day and only available for use by essential workers, including supermarket staff, the police and media. Ordinary citizens must either walk, drive themselves or take taxis to move around the city.
An executive order issued by the Chief Executive of Macau today, to take effect from midnight at the start of Monday 11 July, ordered the closure of all companies, entities and establishments that carry out industrial and commercial activities, with the exception of those that provide public services essentials, namely supply of water, electricity, natural gas and fuels, telecommunications, public transport and garbage collection; and those that provide services necessary for the essential functioning of society, namely hotel accommodation, cleaning and hygiene, building administration, wholesale trade and transport of basic goods for everyday life; and those necessary to maintain the daily life of citizens, namely markets, supermarkets, restaurants, beverage establishments, food establishments, pharmacies and establishments providing health care. Companies, entities or establishments that have been “exceptionally authorized” may also stay open.
IAG understands that establishments serving food must only provide takeout services, with dining-in continuing to be banned.
In providing their services, companies, entities and establishments that may continue to operate must “limit the number of people they serve, ensure distance between customers and demand the scanning of the establishment’s QR Code.”
The order also demands that “all persons must remain at home, unless for reasons of necessary work, purchase of basic goods for everyday life or for other urgent reasons” and well as demanding “people must wear a mask when they go out, with adults using masks of type KN95 or higher standard.”
In response to an IAG question at the press conference enquiring whether employers are required to pay staff salaries for the week in question, Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong replied, “Employers are not required to pay staff salaries, but it is better to come up a solution which is the best for both employers and employees.” It is not entirely clear what Lei meant by, “a solution which is the best for both employers and employees,” but he may have been suggesting employers ask employees to take annual leave during this period.
At today’s press conference, Macau police stated that police officers will be “sent to patrol the streets as well as stop and check vehicles to ask people the reason for being outside”. They said, “If people are going out unnecessarily, the police will first ask them to return home, and if they continue to disobey, then the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act will be used to prosecute.”
Cheong bluntly stated in the press conference, “People must stay home and if they must go outside must wear a HN95 mask. This is not a request. This is an order.”
The maximum penalty is two years in prison or a fine ranging from MOP$12,000 (US$1,500) to MOP$1.2 million (US$150,000).
IAG understands the previously announced 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th rounds of citywide mass nucleic acid tests (NAT) scheduled for 10 and 11 July, 12 and 13 July, 14 and 15 July, and 16 and 17 July respectively, will continue to occur with all citizens expected to undertake all four tests, as well as eight rapid antigen tests (RAT), one on each of the days from 10 to 17 July inclusive.
IAG is receiving reports and citizen-shot video showing that panic buying has begun across Macau. The Macau Economic Bureau has provided an online list of waiting times at Macau supermarkets, which can be accessed here: https://www.dsedt.gov.mo/en_US/web/public/pg_sm_pc.
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