From today those entering the mainland from Macau after arriving here from Hong Kong can also use e-channels at the city’s border checkpoints, as long as they have not visited Taiwan or foreign countries within the past seven days, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced in a statement yesterday.

The new measure took effect at 00:00 a.m. today.

Since February 6, those entering the mainland from Macau after arriving here from Hong Kong have no longer been required to display any COVID-19 test result, neither a nucleic acid test (NAT) nor rapid antigen test (RAT) result, as long as they have not visited Taiwan or foreign countries within the past seven days.

Since then, those entering the mainland from Macau within seven days after arriving here from the Taiwan region or foreign countries are currently still required to show a 48-hour negative NAT result. However, those aged three or below are exempted from the NAT requirement.

Yesterday’s statement announced that for those entering the mainland from Macau after arriving here from Hong Kong without having visited Taiwan or foreign countries within the past seven days, the Macau government will lift from today its requirement for them to pass Macau’s border checkpoints by only using special manual inspection channels. The statement added that today’s lifting of the requirement means that from today, such travellers can now also choose to use general manual inspection channels or e-channels, like other travellers in general.

Yesterday’s statement also noted that those entering the mainland from Macau within seven days after arriving here from the Taiwan region or foreign countries are still required to display a 48-hour negative NAT result.

Yesterday’s statement also noted that from today those in Macau who have visited Taiwan or foreign countries within the past seven days can still only use special manual inspection channels when leaving Macau at any of the city’s border checkpoints, namely Macau-Zhuhai checkpoints, the airport, and ferry terminals.