The number of newly detected COVID-19 infections in Guangzhou city has decreased over the past week with the government confident new cases will reach zero by 20 June. However, the Macau SAR Government remains on high alert and is expected to introduce more policies aimed at preventing any possible spread.
Guangzhou city reported four local infections of COVID-19 on Monday, taking the total since late May to 146 cases. Several areas of the city have been in lockdown during that time and Macau has introduced mandatory quarantine for any arrivals who have been in Liwan, Haizhu, Yuexiu, Panyu, Nansha and Baiyun Districts within the previous two weeks.
The Macao Government Tourism Office has also required all staff and guests of Macau’s hotels and integrated resorts to wear masks, undergo temperature checks and provide a Macao Health Code as of last Wednesday 9 June 2021.
The Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out that this wave was caused by the Delta variant of COVID-19, which has a very short incubation period, high viral load of infection and rapid transmission. However, the Center said most of the new cases were detected in people already in quarantine and large-scale infections within the community had not occurred. It is because of this that Guangzhou believes it will drop back to zero cases by 20 June with the outbreak reaching around 180 cases in total.
Guangzhou has also removed lockdowns in several areas which have not reported any cases over the past two weeks.
Nevertheless, Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre reminded citizens to keep a close eye on the situation in Guangzhou.
“The Delta variant of COVID-19 has a strong capability of transmission, so we cannot guarantee that Macau will not have any possible infections,” health officials warned Monday. Residents have also been urged to get vaccinated sooner rather than later.
