In support of the city’s multiple rounds of nucleic-acid testing (NAT) starting from June 19 for Macao residents and key groups initiated by the Macao SAR government, Sands China volunteers donned personal protective gear to take on a total of over 24,000 shifts to assist the operation of the NAT stations, contributing over 110,000 service hours in the community’s fight against COVID-19.
Sands China took the lead to offer Cotai Expo Halls A, B and C at The Venetian Macao as a testing venue, and its volunteers helped ensure smooth operations at the station by taking different positions at The Venetian Macao. Additionally, they helped at other NAT stations outside the company’s properties, such as the Sino-Portuguese Technical Professional School and Sheng Kung Hui Taipa Youth and Family Integrated Service Centre. Not only did they assist with crowd control, registration, materials distribution and enquiry handling, but they also provided support to those needing special assistance, such as seniors, pregnant women, those with children and infants, and people with disabilities, so that they could finish their tests smoothly.
Paulina Pereira Che, a management team member at The Venetian Macao testing station, said: “One of the biggest challenges was to assemble our testing station within a very tight timeline. Compared to the first community-wide NAT drive in 2021, our setup time decreased from 12 hours to 5 hours, which allowed us to offer support to the community more swiftly.”
Nala Cheong, another Sands China volunteer, said: “During our service, everyone had different positions but we were all united as one. I felt touched when I received sincere support and encouragement from residents.”
With roots in Macao for nearly 20 years now, Sands China will continue to support the Macao government’s COVID-19 control measures and will stand together with the community to minimize the risk of infection during COVID-19 outbreaks.
