Macau has maintained its short 24-hour validity period on negative COVID-19 tests for people entering from Zhuhai amid concerns over a number of cases in its neighboring cities in recent days.
Authorities in Macau had claimed that the virus test validity for visitors would revert from 24 hours to 48 hours if Zhuhai did not report any local COVID-19 cases for seven consecutive days. The last local case in Zhuhai was found on 3 April.
However, both Zhuhai and Guangzhou remain on high alert with Guangzhou reporting “at least” 11 COVID-19 cases on Friday, at least two of which were the Omicron variant.
As a result, Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center announced Sunday that the current 24-hours validity will remain in place.
After evaluation by Guangzhou’s health authority, it is possible that community transmission has already occurred and there is a “potential transmission” to other areas of Guangzhou. It warned that the situation might be more serious than the local outbreak caused by the Delta variant in May last year.
Guangzhou has already suspended schools for seven days and launched a mass-testing blitz on Sunday. Zhuhai and Zhongshan cities also require all people to show negative virus test certificates obtained within the previous 48 hours when entering any residential districts – which means every person needs to hold a negative virus test result when returning home.
The rapid response comes as the COVID-19 situation in Shanghai continues to worsen, with around 30,000 cases reported on Sunday.
China has continued to pursue a zero-COVID policy, with its international borders still closed and COVID-19 outbreaks dealt with via extensive local lockdowns and mass testing.
With visitation currently severely impacted, Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau reported the lowest gross gaming revenue in 18 months in March, with GGR of MOP$3.67 billion (US$459 million).
