The Macau SAR Government has announced that the 24-hour NAT requirement for customs clearance between Zhuhai and Macau will be extended for at least another seven days, until midnight on 21 December. This is the fifth time that the government has extended its NAT clearance.
The extension comes despite Macau last week relaxing its COVID-19 isolation policy with individuals who test positive now allowed to isolate at home.
Many NAT testing stations in both Macau and mainland China have also been shut down, making it more difficult for mainland visitors to get their pre-arrival test.
However, Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, said on Tuesday, “Mainland China will relax its entry prevention measures in the near future, and it will be easier for foreign travelers to enter China.”
Likewise, the Beijing Culture and Tourism Bureau issued the latest guidelines for the resumption of cross-province tours and “air ticket + hotel” business for Beijing travel agencies.
Director of Macau’s Health Bureau, Alvis Lo, said Wednesday that the number of confirmed cases is expected to increase significantly in the next three to four weeks.
“Now that Macau is no longer targeting zero-COVID, people do not need to show their health codes to enter many venues, and the actual number of infections is expected to be higher than [previously],” he said.
