After 11 Covid cases, Macau’s 700,000 residents were subjected to mass testing

Macau conducted mass testing of its 700,000 residents on Tuesday, following the discovery of COVID-19 cases in the previous week, including at a major casino, prompting authorities to seal 1,500 people inside.

Residents in the world’s largest gambling centre have been instructed to take a PCR test on Tuesday and then to test themselves daily with rapid antigen tests. The order comes as Typhoon Nalgae approaches southern China, with officials hoping to complete the PCR tests in one day.

Authorities shut down MGM China’s Cotai casino resort on Sunday, ordering staff and guests to remain inside for three days. It was unclear whether they would be made public on Tuesday.

Following a three-month period with virtually no COVID cases, 11 infections have been discovered in the last few days, and the return of curbs is a setback for casino executives and investors hoping for a recovery in gambling revenues.

Traveling to Macau became easier for mainland residents on Tuesday with the introduction of an online visa system, which replaced the need to file applications in person.

Macau, a Chinese special administrative region, has adopted China’s zero-COVID policy, which aims to eradicate all outbreaks and imposes frequent lockdowns. On the Chinese mainland, authorities forced the closure of Disney’s Shanghai resort this week, while a Foxconn plant in Zhengzhou has been rocked by workers fleeing the compound due to strict COVID restrictions.