Macau authorities today imposed the first lockdown since the outbreak of the pandemic with the aim of eliminating the worst wave of coronavirus to hit the Chinese city.
The government of Macau has announced that a one-week lockdown is being imposed from today after more than 1,500 cases of covid-19 have been recorded in the city in the last three weeks, despite several mandatory mass diagnostic test campaigns for the 650,000 residents.
It is the first lockdown imposed in the city since the beginning of the pandemic and ends the agreement between the local government and the casinos, according to which only places where cases are detected will temporarily suspend their operations.
Macau is the only region in China where casinos are allowed, but the pandemic is currently hitting the semi-autonomous region hard, which has adopted Beijing’s zero-tolerance strategy.
As of today, residents of the city can only leave their homes to buy essential items or to undergo tests. Offenders risk up to two years in prison.
Some public services and shops, such as supermarkets and pharmacies, remain open and only people who have a special permit or present a certificate that they are a low health risk can use the means of transport.
China uses apps to track resident movements and outbreaks. Only those with a green code can move freely.
The government of Hong Kong, across the street from Macau, is considering adopting the same system, the city’s new health minister Lo Chungmau announced today.
“Egoism”
“So-called freedom can often be confused with selfishness,” Lo told RTHK radio station.
“Those who are infected should not have the freedom to go wherever they want and harm our health,” he stressed.
Hong Kong, a commercial crossroads, has for two years adopted a “zero covid” strategy that has cut it off from the rest of the world and caused problems for its economy.
Hong Kong’s new chief minister, John Lee, has vowed to eradicate the coronavirus and reopen the city’s borders with China and the rest of the world.
For this reason the authorities may implement a population monitoring system similar to that used in mainland China.
Hong Kong uses a mobile app that is less intrusive than China’s, with residents having to scan their vaccination certificate at the entrance to public spaces and buildings.
SOURCE: AMPE
Source: Capital
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