The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre has confirmed two new cases of imported COVID-19 infection, taking to 33 the tally of confirmed cases in Macao.

The newly-confirmed case – i.e., the 32nd – involves 31-year-old male resident of the Republic of the Philippines, who is a non-resident worker registered with the Macao authorities employed as warehouse worker by a bakery.

The 33rd case involves a 37-year-old female resident of the Republic of the Philippines, who is a non-resident worker registered with the Macao authorities employed as a cleaning worker by a hotel.

The two patients are friends. On 17 March, they took a Cathay Pacific flight CX930 from the Manila, the Philippines to Hong Kong. They were in seat number 49D and 49E. They then took a coach travel to Macao via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao (HKZM) Bridge. During checkpoint formalities at HKZM Bridge Macao boundary crossing area, they were each directed to observe – under existing epidemic-control measures in place in Macao – a 14-day period of health observation at home. While at the checkpoint, neither of them showed any symptoms relating to COVID-19.

During the period for self-isolation at home, neither of the two had gone to work or left the premises. Each of them had a room separate from the rest of the home. Both of them claimed they had not met with anyone during the isolation period.

An initial test on Thursday (26 March) showed positive – on a preliminary basis – for novel coronavirus-related infection. A further test confirmed the infection.

The male patient had mild coughing and nasal congestion on 24 March. The female patient had so far no symptom relating to COVID-19.

The Municipal Affairs Bureau has sent cleaning teams to disinfect public areas of the male patient’s residence located at Edifício Chi Lok, Rua de Fernão Mendes Pinto; and of the female patient’s residence located at Edifício Weng Luen, Pátio da Eterna União, both in Macao peninsula.

Those who shared the same residence were classified as persons having had causal contact with the patients. They have been taken to Conde S. Januário Hospital for examination and then to designated hotels for a 14-day medical observation.

The six people sharing the same residence with the female patient took a COVID-19 test and results available today showed they all were negative to the coronavirus.

There are 23 patients in Macao confirmed currently to have COVID-19 infection and who are being kept in isolation for treatment at Conde S. Januário Hospital. The 10 previously-confirmed cases in Macao have all been discharged after receiving treatment at Conde S. Januário Hospital.