Macau’s Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ao Ieong U, said on Friday that the government estimates one sixth of Macau people are infected with COVID, and that the number of people with the disease was expected to peak in a week’s time.
She said, “The number of infected people is almost at its peak, and according to statistics, about one sixth of Macau people are infected, but the exact number is difficult to ascertain because some infected people have repeatedly reported it on the internet.”
As well as predicting Macau will reach a peak of severe infection in a week’s time, Ao said that once Macau reaches the peak, all health care workers will be focused on the severely ill. However, IAG has noted that already appears to be happening.
Although Ao Ieong U said that the government estimate of infected people is around one sixth of Macau people, IAG knows that many infected people have not voluntarily reported their positive status, and the number of infected people is therefore almost certainly much higher than the government estimate.
Macau has followed the policy of mainland China in declaring that infected people can isolate at home, and that only those who require hospitalization will be classified as confirmed patients. Asymptomatic cases are no longer classified as confirmed patients.
Immediately after the implementation of the new policy, there was a major outbreak of the disease in Macau, with the outbreak spreading through the SAR like wildfire. Many restaurants, small and medium-sized enterprises, and media companies had to suspend business because of the increasing number of infected people in the community. Staff shortages have affected all sectors of activities across the SAR.
Many government employees are infected with many government departments adjusting their opening hours. Most domestic helpers are currently positive for COVID, causing havoc in already stressed family situations. In addition to the high infection rate, many of the non-infected are not reporting to work, instead staying home to care for infected relatives.
As for the hospitality industry, IR companies are reporting to IAG that as many as 50% of their frontline staff are infected, leading to the closure of most restaurants and entire towers and floors of many hotels. Some properties have even stopped accepting guests altogether.
