The Macau government announced yesterday that it will toughen its COVID-19 testing requirements for those flying to Macau from “extremely high-risk” COVID-19 countries from Thursday next week.

According to yesterday’s announcement, arrivals from all foreign countries will have to display a COVID-19 vaccination record with stricter requirements before flying to Macau.

The new measure, which will take effect on January 6, was announced by Health Bureau (SSM) Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Department Coordinator Leong Iek Hou during yesterday’s regular press conference by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre.

The extremely high-risk COVID-19 countries to be subject to the new testing requirements comprise 22 nations, namely Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Eswatini, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Turkey, the United States, and Zimbabwe.

Before boarding either a direct flight to Macau or the first leg of a connecting flight to the city, according to the new measure, those from any of the 22 extremely high-risk countries will have to present a nucleic acid test (NAT) certificate confirming negative COVID-19 results of three consecutive tests carried out within five days prior to their intended departure en route to Macau, and the three tests must each be carried out at least 24 hours apart.  

According to the new measure, those arriving in Macau from any of the 22 countries will have to undergo 28 days of hotel quarantine.

From Thursday next week, according to Leong, the Macau government’s NAT requirements for those travelling from other foreign countries will remain unchanged, according to which they must present an NAT certificate confirming a negative COVID-19 result valid for 48 hours prior to boarding their flight. Upon arrival in Macau, they must undergo 21 days of hotel quarantine.

Since early October, those aged 12 or over departing for Macau from any foreign country have had to present a certificate confirming that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior, or a doctor’s certificate confirming that they are unable to be inoculated against the novel coronavirus.

According to yesterday’s announcement of the Macau government’s stricter requirements for COVID-19 vaccination records to be presented by travellers from all foreign countries from January 6, their last required shot of a novel coronavirus vaccine must have been administered within seven months prior to boarding their flight.

Currently, only Macau residents, including foreign nationals holding a local ID card, are allowed to return to Macau from a foreign country, but they must undergo hotel quarantine for at least 21 days.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign nationals without a Macau ID card have, in general, been barred from entering Macau since March last year, regardless of whether they are willing to undergo hotel quarantine. Only a few exceptions have been granted.

Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan compatriots who have been to a foreign country within 21 days prior to their intended entry into Macau are also barred from entering the city.

Differences b/w new & current NAT requirements

The Macau government had already toughened its COVID-19 testing requirements in early October for those departing for Macau from any foreign country – a measure that remains in force until Thursday next week, according to which those departing for Macau from a foreign country other than extremely high-risk COVID-19 countries must present an NAT certificate confirming a negative COVID-19 result valid for 48 hours before boarding their flight.

Currently, those from extremely high-risk COVID-19 countries, which currently comprise 14 countries – Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Turkey – must present an NAT certificate confirming negative COVID-19 results of three tests carried out within seven days prior to their intended departure en route to Macau, and the three tests each must be carried out at least 24 hours apart.

3 new points 

Consequently, Leong noted, the new measure which will start on January 6 has three new points compared to the local government’s current COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements for those departing for Macau from foreign countries.

Firstly, Leong said, the number of the government’s classification of extremely high-risk countries subject to COVID-19 testing requirements tougher than other foreign countries in general will increase from the current 14 to 22.

Secondly, those departing from extremely high-risk countries will have to undergo the three required nucleic acid tests within five days, instead of seven days, prior to boarding their flight, Leong said.

Thirdly, the current measure does not have a requirement as to what time the last required shot of a COVID-19 vaccine was administered, Leong said.

Leong also said that the new measure means that those who have had the last required shot of a COVID-19 vaccine more than seven months ago will have to receive a booster jab in order for them to meet the Macau government’s new COVID-19 vaccinations requirements.

2^nd Omicron case raises COVID-19 tally to 79

Meanwhile, Leong also announced during yesterday’s press conference that the 62-year-old local man returning to Macau from the United States whose asymptomatic COVID-19 case was announced on Tuesday started to develop symptoms yesterday, because of which the case has now been added to Macau’s novel coronavirus tally. Consequently, the city’s COVID-19 tally was raised to 79 yesterday. The case, which has been classified as imported, is Macau’s second Omicron variant case.

Health Bureau (SSM) Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Department Coordinator Leong Iek Hou addresses yesterday’s press conference about the city’s COVID-19 situation. Photo: GCS