People returning to Macau from Hong Kong and foreign countries will be required to undergo an additional seven days of “self-health management” once finishing their 21 day mandatory hotel quarantine period, the government announced Thursday.
Arrivals returning from high-risk areas in mainland China and Taiwan are also required to add another 14 days of “self-health management” after completing their 14 days of hotel quarantine.
According to the guidelines issued by the Health Bureau, people in self-health management are advised to stay at home and refrain from going out. Although they may go to school or work as usual, they should inform the school or employer of their contact or travel history and minimize contact with other people. They should also measure their body temperature twice a day, while their health code will be shown as “yellow” during this period.
All will be asked to take a nucleic acid test at the end of the self-quarantine period and to show a negative test result.
Anyone who violates these requirements could be mandatorily placed under isolated medical observation, and could face criminal charges as established in accordance with the law.
The latest policy of adding “self-health management” requirements on arrivals was launched as Macau prepared Thursday for the arrival of 109 residents from 13 foreign countries on two Air Macau flights from Tokyo. The SAR health authority had stated that it was very likely new imported cases would be reported from the two scheduled flight arrivals and promised to implement a strict “closed-loop” system to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 into the community.
One passenger has already tested positive upon their return.
The Macau SAR government has been monitoring the latest pandemic developments on the mainland and as of 21 January requires quarantine for anyone that has been to the following areas:
Hebei Province: All of Shijiazhuang City, Nangong City and Longyao City of Xingtai city, the Gu’an County of Langfang City.
Beijing City: Dashanzhi Community in Jiuxianqiao Subdistrict of Chaoyang District, Nanfaxin Town, Gaoliying Town, Shengli Subdistrict, Nancai Town, Renhe Town, Beishicao Twon and Zhaoquanying Town of Shunyi District, Tiangongyuan Subdistrict of Daxing District.
Liaoning Province: All of Shenyang and Dalian City.
Heilongjiang Province: Suihua City, Aihui District of Heihe City, and Ang’angxi District of Qiqihar City, Xiangfang District of Harbin City, Longfeng District of Daqing City.
Jilin Province: All of Tonghua city, Fanjiatun Town of Gongzhuling City, Eradao District and Luyuan District of Changchun city, Songyuan Economic and Technology Development District of Songyua City.
Shanghai City: Zhaotong Residential Area of Huangpu District.