The governments of Macao and Zhuhai held a video conference on Tuesday evening (3 August) in the wake of new, confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Macao, to inform each other about the new countermeasures in each place, and exchange views on the latest situation.

Mr Wong Sio Chak, Secretary for Security and head of the Macao group on the Macao-Zhuhai Joint Task Force on Epidemic Prevention and Control, told the video conference that the Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, was highly concerned about the new confirmed cases, and had hosted several meetings on tackling the problem. Mr Wong added that district-specific and risk level-specific containment measures were immediately imposed in Macao upon discovery of the cases, which meant that all affected zones were being designated either ‘red’ or ‘yellow’ zones. People living in those zones were not allowed to leave Macao, and strict measures would be imposed on monitoring people leaving or entering the zones, he said.

According to Mr Wong, the health authorities had done epidemiological investigation regarding the four confirmed patients and traced their close contacts. The residence and workplaces of the patients had been sealed off while their close contacts had been asked to undergo nucleic acid testing in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile the nucleic acid test stations at the Pac On Ferry Terminal, Macao Forum, the Workers' Stadium, Kiang Wu Hospital and the University Hospital of the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) will now provide round-the-clock testing services in light of the new testing requirements for those needing to go out of Macao.

During the video conference, Mr Wong reaffirmed Macao's proactive measures on epidemic control, and noted that Macao and Zhuhai would, regarding the latest situation, keep up their sound forms of communication.

For his part, Mr Guo Yonghang, Secretary of the Zhuhai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said that the Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Li Xi, and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui, were very concerned about the emergence of new COVID-19 cases in Macao, and had asked the relevant departments to follow up the situation.

Mr Guo said the Zhuhai authorities had also done epidemiological investigation regarding the Macao patients and traced their close contacts. As a result, the Gongbei district had been designated as a high-risk control zone, and all people in the district would have to undergo nucleic acid testing.

Mr Guo also underlined the importance of sound communication with Macao during the ongoing period of epidemic conditions, in order to facilitate prevention work. He added that Zhuhai would do its best to ensure the supply of daily necessities for people living in Macao.

Key members of the Macao-Zhuhai Joint Task Force, including the Commissioner-General of the Unitary Police Force, Mr Leong Man Cheong, and the Mayor of Zhuhai Municipality, Mr Huang Zhihao, also attended Tuesday evening's conference.