Macau: six to eight hours wait at border health screenings

Macau visitors to be held for up to right hours as part of efforts to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

Macau.- Despite allowing casinos to re-open after the 15-day closure period, authorities in Macau continue to deploy strict measures to prevent the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

Health Bureau Director, Lei Chin Ion, indicated that today people who wanted to enter through the border had to wait between six and eight hours for health procedures to be completed.

Since midnight on Thursday, tourists entering Macau from high-risk Coronavirus regions have been tested for Covid-19. Those areas are Henan, Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces, while Hong Kong is not currently considered a high-risk area.

“A tourist that arrives in Macau will be questioned to see if they come from a higher risk area. If so, a Public Security Police officer agent will help them go to an inspection area. Then medical staff will inquire about symptoms and travel history, with body temperature checks also conducted.

“Every two to two hours new medical examinations will take place. If they have symptoms they will be transferred to the hospital. If no symptoms are recorded after six or eight hours that person will be released.” the SS Director, Lei Chin Ion said, according to Macau Business.

The screening is being conducted at the Macau Federation of Trade Unions Workers Stadium near the Gongbei Border and in the Taipa Ferry Terminal. Authorities are considering whether to add one more screening station to reduce health risks from a large gathering of people being tested.