Macau won't take chances as casinos' doors close

Wallis Wang

All casinos and nonessential industrial and commercial services will be suspended for a week from today as a Covid outbreak worsens in Macau.

About 650,000 residents are banned from leaving their homes unnecessarily for a week, authorities said after Macau recorded 93 infections yesterday, taking its tally to 1,467 since the middle of last month.

Adults must wear the highly protective KN95 mask or its equivalent- not the surgical ones - when they go out. But children may still use surgical masks.

People have mostly remained calm, but supermarket shelves have been cleared of instant noodles, beverages and Chinese medicine drinks.

Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng said all non-essential companies have to suspend services from today to July 18 and only government-approved sectors - such as supermarkets, restaurants and medical facilities - can remain open.

Workers in shut-down nonessential businesses are not entitled to wages for the seven days, said Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai-nong.

Lei said although they are deemed absent from work reasonably, employers are not required to pay them according to the city's Labour Relations Law.

But Lei said the government hopes employers and employees could support each other amid the pandemic and that companies could consider allowing workers to take annual leave during the suspension.

Residents are also banned from leaving their homes, unless they have valid reasons - such as buying daily supplies, carrying out necessary work and taking care of the elderly.

A resident slammed the increase in vegetable prices, citing as example cabbage being sold for more than 108 patacas (HK$105) at a supermarket.

Macau's consumer council said it will follow up on the issue.

People have also rushed to automated teller machines to withdraw cash before banks' closure for a week.

A resident said the ban will greatly affect their lives as many of their work and scheduled events have to be postponed.

Legislator Ron Lam U-tou said many workers were already required to take no-pay leave at the beginning of the outbreak last month and have been suffering a financial burden.

He also said many are complaining about the government's contradictory measures and that it missed the opportunity to lock down the city at the beginning of the outbreak.

People also slammed the government for allowing casinos to operate while launching mass testing schemes over the past weeks, leading to virus transmission, Lam said.

He urged the government to provide consumption vouchers or cash compensation. But he added that although the zero-Covid policy affects the economy and people's livelihoods, Macau must still strive to eliminate infections.

If Macau could not maintain border opening with the mainland, more than 100,000 foreign workers would leave the city, paralyzing social operations, he added.

Macau began its seventh round of mass testing yesterday.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com