Macau sets quarantine for cross-border workers, imposes charges

From Thursday, all foreign workers who have been to mainland China in the past 14 days will be required to undergo 14 days of medical observation at designated venues in Zhuhai before they can enter Macau, Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng announced.

After the observation period they will be issued with a medical certificate from Zhuhai’s medical authority which states that they are free of the coronavirus infection. Macau Daily Times reports.
After they leave observation, they will be taken directly to the Gongbei Border by chartered vehicles. They will be required to cross the border and enter Macau immediately to minimize potential infection.
The decision was announced by the government at its daily press briefing yesterday.

There are other measures applicable to foreign workers seeking entry to Macau from Thursday.
When foreign workers try to enter Macau from elsewhere or are not able to obtain the medical certificate, they will either be sent back to the origin of their journey, be that through a flight or voyage, or undergo quarantine in designated venues in Macau.

If this occurs, the costs of quarantine will be borne by the foreign worker.  These costs, according to the administration secretary, will cover accommodation and meals.

Similar to other government charges, there are legal mechanisms to pursue these costs should the foreign workers fail to settle bills.
If these foreign workers cross the border and go back to mainland China, they will be required to undergo medical observation for 14 days again.

The two measures were implemented to discourage foreign workers from regularly crossing the border as this undermines epidemic prevention and control efforts in the city.