Only casinos exempt from Macau’s virus curbs
Print Edition
Macau extended its COVID-19 restrictions, including the closure of bars, cinemas, hair salons and outdoor parks, from yesterday, the Chinese special administrative region’s chief executive said as the world’s biggest gambling hub battles to curb a rise in locally transmitted cases.
Casinos are allowed to remain open while theaters, fitness centers, and leisure facilities must halt operations from 5pm yesterday, Ho Iat Seng said on the government’s website.
Macau’s more than 600,000 residents were required to undergo a second round of mass testing this week, as the number of infected people jumped to more than 100 cases.
Positive cases include those working or visiting the casinos with a number of them related to a wedding banquet that was held inside SJM Holding’s Grand Lisboa Palace.
A hotel and casino resort on Macau’s main peninsula was locked down by authorities on Tuesday due to a coronavirus infection, with some 700 people forced to quarantine.
Macau’s previous coronavirus outbreak was in October last year and the city has not previously had any large scale quarantine or lockdown. Macau’s cases are still far below daily infections in places including neighboring Hong Kong where cases have jumped to over 1,000 in recent days.
Casino revenues are likely to be close to zero in the coming weeks, according to analysts.
Hong Kong’s outbreak this year saw more than 1 million confirmed infections, and 9,000 deaths, swamping hospitals and public services.
Macau has only one public hospital and its services are already stretched on a daily basis. The territory’s swift plan to test its entire population comes as it keeps open the border with Chinese mainland, with many residents living and working in the next-door city of Zhuhai.
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