Macau casino operators let staff stay overnight to avoid travel

Macau casino operators now allow staff to stay overnight at hotel accommodations to avoid them having to travel amid a rise in Covid-19 cases.

Macau.- Following the rise in Covid-19 cases in neighbouring Guangdong Province, Macau’s casino operators have begun allowing staff to remain in hotel accommodations.

Sands China has invited its staff that live in Zhuhai to apply for free accommodation for up to 30 consecutive days, provided they do not leave Macau during the period.

The measure was taken to help avoid large movements of people. Casino operators are also offering Covid-19 test stations. Several have hosted vaccination points.

Macau health authorities have imposed a 14-day quarantine on people who have been in the districts of Haizhu, Liwan, Nansha, Panyu or Yuexiu in Guangzhou, or the Nanhai and Chancheng districts of Foshan.

Those who had been in Guangzhou or Foshan within the previous 14 days are required to show a Covid-19 negative test issued in the last 48 hours.

Macau Health Bureau director Lo Iek Long is analysing if it would be necessary, and possible, to carry out mass testing.

He believes 650,000 residents could be tested within four days and that he is seriously thinking about moving forward with the measure.

Due to the recent spread of Covid-19 cases, Morgan Stanley has cut its forecast for Macau gross gaming revenue (GGR) this year by 19 per cent to US$16.3bn. That would be just 45 per cent of 2019 levels, but it would an improvement of 115.4 per cent when compared to 2020.