Zhuhai authorities have underlined that despite the reduction in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases it will maintain its pandemic prevention and control measures during the Chinese New Year period, and establish a special fund to assist stranded migrant workers.
According to the publication Zhuhai Daily, the neighbouring Chinese city has had no new positive cases for two consecutive days, figures released by the Zhuhai Health Bureau revealed on Tuesday.
Still, Zhuhai residents were recommended to stay in the city during the Spring Festival holiday between January 31 and February 6, and avoid inter-provincial travels or trips to medium and high-risk areas if not necessary.
Large-scale activities, such as cultural performances, exhibitions, and temple fairs will also be reduced during the upcoming week-long holiday.
The deputy director of Zhuhai Human Resources and Social Security Bureau was also reported as saying that an RMB200 million (US$32 million) fund has been allocated to benefit migrant workers that stay in the city during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday and to help companies resume operation after the holiday.
City authorities also provided RMB1.4 million for workers facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as free mutual medical support for 2,000 migrant workers.
Due to the onset of confirmed cases in the cities of Zhuhai and Zhongshan, Macau authorities have also implemented reinforced pandemic measures, advised aginst large gatherings during the holiday period and scaled back the usual large events held during this time of the year.
The imposition of a 24-hour negative test requirement by Zhuhai authorities to cross the Macauland border has also led to a sharp decrease in visitor arrivals in the SAR, with entries and exits dropping to 39,000 by the end of last week, less 40 per cent when compared to the previous week.
Gaming revenues reported between January 1 and 23, some MOP4.9 billion (US$611 million) were also 17 per cent lower than in December, 2019, brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein noted.
A representative from the tourism authorities has also already warned that if the pandemic situation does not improve in the region, most large events planned for the Chinese New Year could be moved to the second half of February.
Until the afternoon of January 24, six people who have been in Macau were classified as individuals in close contact with confirmed cases in those cities.
Four of the people defined as close contacts are in Macau and have so far completed 35 nucleic acid tests, all negative.
A total of 1,388 people with close secondary contact were followed up, people who had the same journey with them and target individuals subject to management and control.
Currently, there are 19,268 individuals who, by actively making the declaration through the Macao Health Code, have their health codes converted to yellow. These individuals have already performed 59,350 tests, also all with negative results.
