Macaus top official, Ho Iat Seng, has declared that businesses, including gambling establishments, will be permitted to reopen with limitations beginning at midnight on July 23rd.
The proclamation was published in the Macau Government Gazette, which also outlined additional restrictions, such as the closure of educational institutions, movie theaters, and certain entertainment spots.
Ho Iat Seng also encouraged the public to stay at home as much as feasible, except for work, purchasing necessities, or other essential activities. When venturing out, everyone must wear an N95 face covering.
However, the Macau Health Bureau has issued directives on disease prevention and control, which will apply to all reopened enterprises.
These guidelines specify that all reopened businesses must adhere to stringent health and safety protocols, including face mask use, maintaining physical distance, and regular sanitation.
The Macau government has also stated that it will continue to observe the progression of the outbreak and modify disease prevention measures as required.
Macau enforced its initial shutdown from July 11th to the 22nd, followed by an extension of the closure of all non-essential services and enterprises. This was due to the ongoing spread of the virus, trapping numerous individuals in various parts of the city, including the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Casino.
Despite the relatively small scale of the outbreak by Western standards, with no fatalities reported thus far, China’s “zero-COVID” strategy implies that any cases in a region could trigger stringent control measures by the government.
According to official figures, over 90% of the Special Administrative Region’s inhabitants have been fully inoculated, meaning they have received at least two doses.
Over the past week, the daily count of new COVID cases has steadily declined, from a peak of 109 confirmed cases on July 10th to just 6 cases on July 18th.
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