Macau has lifted the requirement for all casino workers to have an NAT test every two days due to overcrowding at testing stations.
The workers will still have to take a rapid antigen test at home before turning up for work. The rule also applies to construction workers.
“The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre indicates that, having regard to the multitude of construction workers and casino employees, undergoing nucleic acid testing every two days – despite its benefit of lowering the transmission risk in workplaces – can cause crowd gathering at sampling stations, which is not conducive to epidemic prevention and control,” it said.
Macau has just wrapped up a third round of mandatory mass testing. As of Thursday morning, the number of cases was up to 571, with 49 detected in the community and 39 in people who were under medical observation.
All leisure facilities, hair salons, public parks and sports facilities have been shut down as the city grapples with its worst outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic. The casinos remain open, although there is close to zero visitation.
