Macao COVID-19 outbreak hits more than 900 as infections spread

HONG KONG: Macao reported 89 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday (Jul 5), taking the complete to more than nine hundred infections since mid-June, as authorities in the world’s biggest gambling hub race in order to contain its biggest outbreak since the outbreak began.

More than 13, 1000 people are under pen in the Chinese exclusive administrative region, which has effectively shut down to limit the spread of coronavirus.

The city’s greater than 600, 000 occupants are subject to three citywide COVID-19 medical tests this week, with people furthermore required to take quick antigen tests in between.

While the former Portuguese colony has not introduced a full level lockdown seen in mainland Chinese cities like Shanghai, most amenities are shut and restaurants can only provide takeaway.

Just Macao’s casinos have already been allowed to stay open up in a move to make sure job security. The federal government relies on the industry for over 80 per cent of its tax revenue along with most of the population employed directly or not directly by the casino major resorts.

While casinos are physically open up, there are hardly any bettors inside and very couple of staff working, with many employees asked to remain at home, as per the government’s request.

The stringent procedures come after Macao has been largely COVID-free since an break out in October 2021. It still has an open border with mainland China, with its economy firmly hinged to the inflow of Chinese visitors.

Macao adheres in order to China’s “zero-COVID” plan which aims in order to eradicate all outbreaks, at just about any kind of cost, running kitchen counter to a global pattern of trying to co-exist with the virus.

Its cases are still far below day-to-day infections in other areas, including neighbouring Hk where cases have jumped to over 2, 000 a day this month.

However , Macao only has one open public hospital, whose solutions are already stretched on a regular basis. Officials have put up a makeshift hospital next to the city’s Las Vegas style Cotai strip to help deal with the rise in cases.