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Summary
- Casinos in Macau are among the non-essential businesses allowed to reopen on July 23
- Licensed operators will reopen casinos with 50 percent staffing
- Travel restrictions will remain in place as clusters of cases are reported in neighboring provinces
The Macau government has announced the resumption of casino operations on Saturday, July 23, after extending the citywide lockdown measures for five days. Casinos will follow guidance similar to 2021 this time operating at 50 percent staffing and will also be required to conduct thorough disinfection before re-accepting customers, according to Alvis Lo lek Long, director of Macau’s Health Bureau.
Non-essential businesses, including casinos, have been closed for almost two weeks as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. The reopening on Saturday comes with strict social distancing rules, with only one person allowed to occupy 2 square meters of space inside business establishments. This covers customers entering the premises but excludes staff working in the area.
For casinos, it remains unclear whether the 2 square-meter rule would affect gaming table density. The city’s gaming regulator, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, hasn’t provided any clarification on this, other than saying that the agency would assign some personnel to monitor the casino floors.
Macau is entering a “consolidation” phase from July 23-29 during which select non-essential businesses will be allowed to reopen based on certain criteria. After carrying out a series of inspections at casinos, health authorities found that their ventilation system and cleaning processes are “up to standard“, meaning they can go back to business though at limited capacity.
The consolidation phase could continue for one more week after the 29th, according to authorities.
No Easing of Travel Restrictions
Meanwhile, the city’s Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao leong U announced during a recent press briefing that restrictions will remain in place for people travelling into and out of Macau. This means those planning to enter Macau from Zhuhai in Guangdong province in mainland China must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of departure.
People travelling from Macau to Zhuhai also need to provide the same document, but it must be issued within 24 hours of departure. Additionally, they are required to be in isolation for seven days in a designated quarantine facility in Zhuhai. These rules have been in effect since June 19.
As of Tuesday, July 19, Macau recorded 18 new positive cases, bringing the total to 1,783 since the latest outbreak began on June 18. Neighboring provinces are also dealing with a fresh surge in cases, including Guangdong where clusters of COVID-19 infection are being reported.
