The Macau government has warned that a COVID-19 outbreak is highly possible after close contacts of a case in Zhongshan city, Guangdong Province, were found to have traveled back to Macau.
It comes after more than 50 local infections were detected in Nanjing city, Jiangsu Province, over the weekend with many related to the Nanjing Lukou International Airport, where 17 workers tested positive last Wednesday.
The new case in Zhongshan city was a woman who had been to Nanjing International Airport and returned to Zhongshan via Zhuhai Airport.
After she later tested positive to COVID-19, an investigation by authorities found four close contacts have been active in Macau. They include a Macau resident who took a Galaxy shuttle bus to work on 21 and 22 July and another who visited The Venetian Macao via shuttle service. All have since tested negative and are now in quarantine.
Although border interactions between Macau and Guangdong Province remain normal, Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre is requiring all individuals who have been in Zhongshan since 19 July to show a negative COVID-19 virus test result when entering Macau.
The Health Bureau also warned it is very likely to see a new COVID-19 outbreak in Macau – the first since the start of the pandemic in January 2020 – and urged all citizens to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as possible.
Guangzhou and several other cities in Guangdong Province witnessed a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in May and June, resulting in a tightening of border controls with Macau and heavily impacting June GGR.
Several cities in mainland China have also reported local infections over the past week.
As of 25 July, Macau requires individuals who have been to any of the following areas in mainland China to quarantine for 14 days:
Yunnan Province: Ruili City or Longchuan County of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture.
Jiangsu Province: Yongyang Subdistrict of Lishui District, Yaxi Subdistrict of Gaochun District, Nanyuan Subdistrict of Jianye District, Jiangning District, Lukou Subdistrict, Yinxiang Community in Moling Subdistrict or Zhougang Community in Hushu Subdistrict of Jiangning District, Jiutang Administration Village in Shiqiu Subdistrict of Lishui District, Nanjing Lukou International Airport in Nanjing City.
