COVID-19 pandemic in Macau

[3] Stringent government measures[4] have included the 15-day closure of all 81 casinos in the territory in February 2020; in addition, effective 25 March, the territory disallowed connecting flights at its airport as well as entry by all non-residents (with the exception of residents of mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan), and from 6 April, the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge was closed to public transport and most other traffic.

The territory had not suffered a major outbreak of COVID-19 until June 2022, when a cluster of locally transmitted COVID-19 cases prompted the government to implement restrictions, including the closure of non-essential businesses and repeated rounds of mandatory mass testing of its entire population,[5] in line with mainland China's Zero-COVID policy (Portuguese: Meta Dinâmica de Infecção Zero).

[13] The next day, the seventh case was announced, that of a 67-year-old woman, a resident of Wuhan who travelled to Guangzhou before entering Macau through the Barrier Gate checkpoint.

The patient left London and arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport via Kuala Lumpur on the night of March 16.

[20] On 27 March, the government of neighbouring Zhuhai announced that anyone returning or travelling from outside Mainland China (including Macau and Hong Kong) would undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine with a few exceptions.

[22] See #2021 Overall, Macau was among the safest places in the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, with relatively few infections and a large array of medical, social, and financial response measures.

[24] On 1 January 2020, the Macao Health Bureau asked Macau International Airport to implement body temperature screening for all passengers on flights coming from Wuhan.

[28] On 21 January, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng ordered the establishment of a 24-hour "Novel Coronavirus Emergency Coordination Center", replacing the "Interdepartmental Working Group Against Pneumonia of Unknown Cause", to operate directly under the chief executive, with Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture as vice chair.

[36] On 24 January, the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau announced that all non-tertiary schools would extend their Chinese New Year holiday, not resuming classes until February 10 or later.

[40] On the same day, the Macau government announced that they would donate 50,000 urgently needed medical masks to the city of Zhuhai, to be used for the prevention and treatment of the virus.

[41] On 26 January, the government announced that starting on the 27th, all non-residents who were from or had been to Hubei in the past 14 days were required to have a doctor's note certifying that they did not have the virus in order to be allowed into Macau.

[43] On 28 January, Secretary for Administration and Justice Cheong Weng Chon (張永春) said that in accordance with the decision of the central government, endorsements for mainland Chinese visitors to Macau would be suspended.

[45] On 3 February, the government of Macau announced that starting at noon, all bus and taxi passengers were required to wear masks; otherwise the driver would have the right to refuse boarding.

[49][50] The following facilities were also required to close: cinemas, theatres, indoor amusement parks, arcades, internet cafes, pool halls, bowling alleys, steam baths, massage parlours, beauty salons, gyms, health clubs, bars, karaoke bars, nightclubs, discos, and dance clubs.

[54] On 13 February the government announced economic relief measures, including: (1) reduction of taxes and fees to relieve the burden on businesses and residents; (2) assistance to small and medium enterprises and interest subsidies, to support the continued existence of enterprises; (3) measures to enhance people's livelihoods and support vulnerable families; (4) technical training, providing work, and protecting wages; (5) putting out electronic coupons to accelerate economic recovery.

[55] The government also announced that it would cooperate with a local research team in Macau to establish production lines in the mainland and safeguard the supply of face masks.

[58] At a press conference, the Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong (李偉農) mentioned that when casinos reopened, they would have to follow government measures in order to protect employee and guest safety.

[84] In addition, it was announced that students returning to Macau from abroad would have to undergo 14 days of medical observation at home and a nucleic acid test.

The Tourism Bureau announced that transportation from Hong Kong International Airport to a designated location would be arranged for Macau residents and students coming from the United States as well as European countries.

[88] Effective 18 March, the government banned entry of all non-residents, with exceptions for mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

[94] On 8 April, the Secretary for Economy and Finance announced that 10 billion patacas would be put into an anti-epidemic assistance fund to help residents and businesses.

[104] On 5 August, Macau authorities ordered entertainment and leisure venues (except casinos) closed after four local family members were infected with the Delta variant.

While the exact source of the virus that seeded the outbreak the prior month is still unknown, it was reported that those cases were traced to a prison worker and a butcher who frequently travelled between the casino hub and the neighbouring Chinese city of Zhuhai.

However, patrons would be required to show a negative nucleic acid COVID-19 test taken within the past 72 hours as a condition for entry to those businesses.

The same day, China's National Immigration Administration reopened electronic visa applications for mainland residents who wish to travel to Macau after two and a half years.

[8][9] At a press conference in February 2020, Ho Iat Seng welcomed mainland Chinese people to make use of Macau's free medical service.

Afterwards, Secretary for Administration and Justice Cheong Weng Chon (張永春) said that any patients from outside Macau who had COVID-19 would need to pay their own medical bills; they would be able to apply for a fee waiver, and the government would make a decision based on their financial situation and effects on the public.

[127] The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that railings and similar could become a mode of transmission, that it's difficult to wear a mask when exercising, and that it's easy to end up starting a conversation if you run into a friend; these could all increase the risk of transmitting the virus.

In response, some residents questioned whether these measures and recommendations were contradictory, saying sarcastically that the government doesn't let people go to the park to exercise but does let them go to the casino to gamble.

[129] The government responded that after an evaluation, the decision to reopen casinos was made to balance the needs of epidemic prevention and local workers' employment.