Macau’s 3rd Covid‑Testing Roll‑out: “All‑Hands on Deck”
On Monday, June 27, the gambling hotspot of Macau rolled out its third round of mandatory Covid‑19 testing, covering every one of its 600,000+ residents. The move comes as the city grapples with a spike in cases and aims to keep the casino lights flickering while keeping everyone safe.
What’s Happening Inside Macau?
- Over 5,000 people are now in quarantine and a handful of buildings have been sealed off.
- The latest Sunday batch recorded 38 new cases, bumping the outbreak total to 299.
- Two earlier testing waves were completed last week; the newest round wraps up on Tuesday.
- Most city venues are under a stay‑home directive—bars, salons, and even outdoor parks are closed, leaving only take‑away from diners.
- Casinos, though largely deserted, remain open to preserve local jobs.
Why the Crackdown?
Macau follows China’s “zero Covid” policy, a bold approach that tries to stop every outbreak, no matter the cost. While the region stayed Covid‑free until last October, it’s now facing the highly transmissible Omicron variant, which has kept the rest of the continent on its toes.
Key Takeaway: Macau’s strict steps are a stark contrast to the global shift towards living with the virus.
Comparing Numbers
- Macau still reports far fewer cases than neighboring Hong Kong, where daily infections surged to nearly 2,000 a month.
- Hong Kong is wrestling with over 1 million confirmed cases and 9,000 deaths, overwhelming hospitals and cutting public services. The city is now easing restrictions.
- Macau, with just one heavily stressed public hospital, pushes forward with a widespread testing plan while keeping its border with mainland China open, especially for residents from Zhuhai.
Bottom Line
Macau’s latest testing blitz—though a bit of a crackdown—aims to keep the region safe without shutting down its whole economy. With heavy testing and a wrapped‑up plan that ends next Tuesday, the city hopes to stay ahead of the curve and keep the casino slots spinning, even if patrons are mostly glued to their screens.
