Taking precautionary measures
The gambling regulator in Macau has announced that all casino staff will have to get tested for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure. The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) said on Tuesday that coronavirus testing will come into effect on July 15.
priority given to those workers who interact with the public
The DICJ will be working together with Macau’s health authorities to organize nucleic acid testing for all casino employees. Tests will be administered in batches, with priority given to those workers who interact with the public, such as table game dealers and security personnel.
Coronavirus testing capacity
The Macau government will be supporting the cost of these one-off tests, which will not be administered to staff every time they enter the workplace. While no timeline was announced, a Health Bureau official did say that testing will begin “very soon”.
the ability to conduct 16,000 tests daily
The authorities are still liaising with the six major gaming operators about the most efficient way to test. The government says it has the ability to conduct 16,000 of these tests daily. It is currently testing between 4,000 and 6,000 individuals every day.
Additional measures announced
The DICJ also announced Monday that any person entering a casino in Macau will have to get their body temperature taken, provide a health-declaration statement, and hold a certificate for a recent “valid nucleic acid test” proving they do not have COVID-19. Test certification will be required from patrons starting Wednesday.
The goal behind the latest requirements is to help stop the spread of the virus and to protect casino workers and patrons alike.
most people headed to Guangdong from Macau will no longer have to undergo a 14-day quarantine
Quarantine restrictions for people traveling between Macau and the Chinese mainland province of Guangdong will also be relaxed. This means that most people headed to Guangdong from Macau will no longer have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period upon their return. Last year, 46% of all visits to Macau came from this neighboring province.
Macau is also working with the authorities in Hong Kong to ease travel restrictions, with a “health passport” plan currently under review.