Macau Govt. weighs making negative test results mandatory to enter commercial businesses

Macau's Government is considering mandating the presentation of a nucleic acid test (NAT) result to enter commercial establishments in the future, according to Leong Iek Hou, the head of the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Division of the Health Bureau (SSM). The measure comes as the gaming hub reported zero confirmed cases of Covid-19 for the third day in a row, with the total cases, including those in quarantine, down to single digits.

However, strict Covid measures remain in place. On Saturday, casinos were allowed to reopen after a nearly two-week shutdown mandated in an effort to stop the spread of Covid-19. Although allowed to return to business, casinos are required to limit staff numbers to 50% of normal as well as follow strict disinfection and health guidelines.

As reported by TDM Canal Macau, Leong stated in a news conference Tuesday that although the government does have intentions of relaxing the measures, it is impossible to relax them all at once. She further explained that there is a strong focus on this week’s reports, as they seek to maintain zero cases in the community as well as zero cases in the NAT testing on July 30 and 31.

During the daily briefing, Leong said that the government was closely monitoring the situation and is studying the measures to be established next week, among which she explained that the government intends to require citizens to produce NAT reports before entering restaurants and some commercial establishments.