A majority of Macau’s entertainment facilities will be allowed to resume operations from the stroke of midnight this Wednesday 18 August, according to a notice published in the Official Gazette on Monday.
Facilities allowed to reopen include cinemas, theaters, indoor amusement parks, game centers, cybercafes, billiard rooms, bowling centers, saunas, massage parlors, beauty salons, gyms, health clubs, karaoke lounges, bars, nightclubs, discotheques, dance parlors and cabaret venues. Casinos were exempt from the original closure order.
“The concerned venues should thoroughly sterilize their facilities before resuming operations and should follow closely the epidemic-control guidelines issued by the city’s health authorities, such as requesting patrons to present a valid Macao Health Code to gain access to their respective premises,” the notice read.
“The Macao Government Tourism Office, the Municipal Affairs Bureau and the Sports Bureau will step up inspections of these venues.”
Entertainment venues were ordered to suspend operations for 14 days from 5 August after a family of four recently returned from Zhuhai tested positive to COVID-19. The cases – Macau’s first in the community in 18 months – sparked fears of an outbreak with the government announcing a three-day mass testing blitz of all residents from 4 to 6 August.
However, all tests came back negative and there have been no further infections since. Macau removed its “immediate prevention” status on 10 August.
Macau will also be removed from China’s list of medium-risk areas on Tuesday with the SAR having completed 14 days without any new cases.
