Around 53,000 frontline staff working in Macau’s casinos have now received COVID-19 virus tests, with all test results coming back negative, Health authorities announced on Thursday.
The Macau Health Bureau and Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau revealed in July that, with border interactions between Macau and the mainland starting to return to normal and the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS), all guests entering casinos would be required to submit a negative virus test result obtained within the previous seven days.
It also stated that while those same restrictions would not apply to casino employees, frontline staff would be required to pass a one-off COVID-19 test to be provided free of charge. The test applied to all dealers, cashier workers, security staff and other frontline staff, as well as junket workers.
On Thursday, the Health Bureau said that almost all casino staff across the six concessionaires had now received virus tests with only a small number remaining.
The news comes just a day after the DICJ warned that casinos faced being shut down for the first time since February should any new positive tests emerge from someone who had attended gaming areas.
Macau has not had any new cases of COVID-19 contracted within the community for more than five months.