Macau tightens travel restrictions due to Covid-19 cases

Ho Iat Seng, Macau’s chief executive, has imposed a new rule under which people who plan to travel outside Macau must present a negative Covid-19 test issued within 24 hours of departure.

Macau.- Authorities have tightened countermeasures again following the appearance of local Covid-19 cases in Macau. Now Ho Iat Seng, Macau’s chief executive has imposed a new rule that requires people to show a negative test before leaving the city.

According to local media reports, the new rule will be effective from today (October 6) until further notice. Leong Iek Hou, a Macau health official, said there would be some exceptions to the 24-hour test rule, including people dealing with disease prevention and control and those involved with the day-to-day needs of Macau. 

The city has detected over 70 new Covid-19 cases during the last week. Authorities have launched new mass testing – the third in recent months, and authorities in the city of Zhuhai have announced that the mandatory 14-day quarantine for visitors from Macau will be kept in place.

The new Covid-19 cases have had a deep impact on the highly anticipated October Golden Week, during which authorities had expected to welcome 40.000 daily visitors. Only 3,122 visitors arrived in Macau during the first two days.