Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long reaffirmed yesterday that the daily number of new COVID-19 infections in the city has been rising “significantly” to up to about 70 over recent days.

The health chief also said that most of the COVID-19 infectees over recent days have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus for the first time.

Dr Lo made the remarks while speaking to reporters after attending a healthcare summit yesterday, which was part of the ongoing BEYOND International Technology Innovation Expo 2023 at the Venetian in Cotai. The three-day expo ends today.

Dr Lo said that the number of people reporting their COVID-19 self-test positive results on the Health Bureau’s online platform, as well as the number of those testing positive for COVID-19 in a nucleic acid test (NAT), have been increasing over recent days. Dr Lo said that around 70 COVID-19 infections were recorded on Wednesday, either confirmed by rapid antigen tests (RATs, aka self-tests) or nucleic acid tests.

A report by local Chinese-language newspaper Macao Daily News earlier this week quoted the Health Bureau as saying that while a daily average of fewer than 10 COVID-19 infections was reported last month, an average of around 20 COVID-19 infections was reported every day last week. The daily average number of COVID-19 infections has meanwhile risen to around 70, the report said.

Dr Lo said yesterday that an average of around 1,000 people have sought treatment at the emergency department of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre every day over recent days, an increase from around 600 or 700 recorded in normal days.

According to Dr Lo, the percentage of those seeking treatment at the public hospital’s emergency department who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 has also been increasing significantly.

Dr Lo also pointed out that up to seven new COVID-19 patients have been admitted to treatment facilities in a day recently, at the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre and the private Kiang Wu Hospital.

6 more COVID-19 patients admitted on Wednesday

The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced in a statement yesterday that six more COVID-19 patients were admitted to treatment facilities on Wednesday, two at the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre and four at the private Kiang Wu Hospital.

Consequently, a total of 36 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to treatment facilities between May 1 and May 10.

Last month, there were only two days when Macau had new COVID-19 patients admitted to treatment facilities – two on April 25 and three on April 27.

According to the Health Bureau’s COVID-19 website, which was updated yesterday, Macau’s official cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 3,556, of which 3,423 had meanwhile been cured.

XBB subvariants

Dr Lo also revealed yesterday that most of the COVID-19 infections detected in Macau over recent weeks have been confirmed as Omicron XBB subvariants.

Dr Lo also said that most of the COVID-19 infectees over recent days have been infected with the novel coronavirus for the first time, while others have caught the virus for the second time.

Dr Lo noted that senior citizens or those with chronic diseases are more likely to be infected with COVID-19 for the second time because of their weaker immune system.

Dr Lo also noted that those infected with COVID-19 for the second time will normally come down with symptoms slighter than when they caught the novel coronavirus for the first time. Those with a second-time COVID-19 infection are less likely to suffer from serious conditions compared to those with a first-time infection, he said.

However, Dr Lo warned that the population should stay vigilant against second-time infections because of the constant emergence of new COVID-19 variants worldwide.

Dr Lo also underlined that the novel coronavirus will constantly exist and spread in the community, urging residents to be prepared for the predicament but without the need to be scared. 

Meanwhile, a separate statement by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre yesterday noted that Macau’s current COVID-19 situation is similar to the mainland’s, adding that most of the COVID-19 infections detected in Macau currently have been confirmed as Omicron various XBB subvariants, such as XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, and XBB.1.9. 

Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long talks to reporters at the Venetian in Cotai yesterday. – Photo courtesy of TDM