Earlier this week, reports started to surface that Macau was ready to relax its tight border controls, which the gambling city had in place for the past couple of months due to the coronavirus. The announcement followed word that the Gongbei border and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge were resuming regular operating hours as of this past Sunday, but it now appears that someone may have been a little overzealous when releasing the update on the border controls. According to a new statement by Macau health officials, there are no confirmed details as to when border restrictions will be lifted.
The good news is that Macau seems to have all but eradicated all traces of COVID-19. However, the city is still guardedly cautious about completely lifting travel restrictions, as even a single new case of the virus could force the city to undo all the forward momentum it has seen. Health officials in Macau said yesterday that they are still working with officials in mainland China, as well as Macau leaders, to firm up the final details of a plan that would allow the city to launch a more pronounced recovery process.
During a press conference on COVID-19 and an update on how Macau is responding to the pandemic, Conde de São Januário Hospital clinical director Alvis Lo Iek Long stated that the relaxation of borders and quarantine measures would only happen gradually. He added that all efforts would require “complementary” measures launched by Macau and mainland China, with both needing to agree on testing and alert procedures. He added that, once the final plans are formulated and ready to be introduced, the government will release the information and said that, in the meantime, residents need to remain patient.
The current border controls don’t just impact arrivals into Macau. There is a small handful of foreigners still unable to leave the city because of the ongoing health crisis, and they’re getting anxious to be able to return home. The Macau Government Tourism Office has been busy helping arrange departures for a number of non-residents, but the individuals have to be completely cleared by health officials before being allowed to start their journey. While Macau has not registered a new coronavirus case in the past several weeks, almost 90 people are still been kept under medical quarantine at the Pousada Marina Infante Hotel.
