Addressing yesterday’s daily press conference about Macau’s novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) situation, Health Bureau (SSM) Director Lei Chin Ion said that no new NCP cases having been confirmed in Macau for six consecutive days shows that the local government’s measures against the virus have started to deliver results.

However, he was quick to add that his did not mean that the epidemic in Macau has eased. He stressed that the city is still facing a serious threat from the virus.

The health chief reaffirmed that there may be “hidden” cases in some neighbourhoods, urging residents to persevere in keeping up all the necessary preventive measures with the aim of winning the battle against the new virus.

Lei made the remarks yesterday evening at the bureau adjacent to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre.

Macau has so far recorded 10 confirmed novel coronavirus cases, including the first patient – a 52-year-old woman from Wuhan – who was discharged from hospital on Thursday, comprising seven tourists from Wuhan and three Macau residents. During the daily press conference on Sunday, Chang Tam Fei, coordinator of the public hospital’s emergency department, said he expected some of Macau’s nine NCP patients to be possibly discharged in several days’ time.

Macau has not confirmed a new NCP case since last Tuesday.

Lei said this, nevertheless, did not mean that the epidemic in Macau has eased. He underlined for the time being the local situation concerning the virus threat was still serious, consequently residents could still not resume their normal lifestyle.

29 diagnosed elsewhere after visiting or working in Macau

According to Leong, 29 people who had been in Macau recently have meanwhile been diagnosed with NCP elsewhere. Apart from the two patients in South Korea and one in Malaysia, 22 have been diagnosed with the disease in Zhuhai, three in Hong Kong and one in Taiwan.

The two patients in South Korea comprise a 51-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman, Leong said. Both travelled by Air Macau flight NX826 from Macau to Seoul on January 31. Leong said that at the time of the press conference the bureau was still waiting for the passenger list from the airline.

Lei said yesterday that according to information provided by health authorities outside Macau, at least nine people – none of them Hubei residents – who have been diagnosed with NCP in neighbouring regions and countries were found to have previously visited casinos or used public transport in Macau. Lei said the situation meant that there are possibly hidden cases, or cases which do not carry obvious symptoms, in some neighbourhoods in Macau.

Lei said that if the government had not suspended casino operations, not cancelled Chinese New Year celebratory events and not urged residents to refrain from attending gatherings, Macau would already have recorded more NCP cases in various neighbourhoods, or even a community outbreak.

Lei again urged residents to maintain all the necessary preventive measures, namely staying at home, refraining from leaving home and attending gatherings. Lei urged residents who need to leave home to always wear a mask and wash their hands frequently. “I hope that all Macau residents will persevere [in maintaining the preventive measures] so that we can win the battle [against the virus] more quickly,” Lei said.

3rd round of facemask sales to include masks for kids

Lei also revealed that the third round of the government’s facemask purchase scheme at the fixed price of eight patacas for 10 facemasks for local residents and non-resident workers will be launched tomorrow, adding that the government will announce the details today. The third round of the scheme will include facemasks for children for the first time, Lei said. The first and second rounds of the scheme were launched on January 23 and on February 2 respectively.

Replying to media questions, Lei said it was difficult for his bureau to estimate the number of hidden NCP cases in Macau as infectious diseases are unpredictable and involve uncertainty.

Lei said that the local government could not predict when the epidemic in Macau will be over. He said the government would keep evaluating the latest situation in Macau based on the situation on the mainland and elsewhere outside Macau.