One of the passengers onboard one of the two special Air Macau flights coming from Tokyo bringing 109 residents stranded abroad tested positive for COVID-19 in a rapid nucleic acid test carried out upon arrival in Macau, according to a statement issued by the Government Information Bureau.
The resident who tested positive is a 43-year old woman who was immediately sent to the Conde de S. Januário Hospital, where she remains in the isolation ward. Health authorities state that the woman is an asymptomatic case.
It is the 47th case of COVID-19 in Macau and the first in seven months.
The resident in question, who departed from Dubai via Singapura to Tokyo where she boarded the special flight, tested positive in the two rapid nucleic acid tests which were taken by all passengers and crew. Authorities add that eight passengers sitting nearby the woman during the flight have been immediately sent to the Alto de Coloane Clinical Centre where they await in isolation the results of the conventional nucleic acid test.
The remaining 98 individuals were transported to the Grand Coloane Resort where they will be subject to the mandatory 21-day quarantine period, during which they will undergo four nucleic acid tests, while strictly meeting the epidemic prevention requirements at the hotel. After the 21 days, these residents will have to undergo an additional period of at least seven days of self-management of their health at home.
The two flights carried passengers from high-risk areas, including the United Kingdom and Portugal, among other countries.
The Macau Government stresses that it adopted strict measures for each stage, after the arrival of two Air Macau flights carrying Macau residents, including management of the entire process in a closed circuit, nucleic acid tests on all passengers and crew upon arrival at the Macau International Airport.
