Borders busy as non-resident workers crowd for Covid-19 tests

A large number of non-resident workers who wished to carry out the nucleic acid test queued up at the Taipa Ferry Terminal, according to a statement released by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center.
At 9 a.m. yesterday, there were about 600 people in the queue. Some of the people had no appointment while others only had an appointment for the afternoon. In view of this situation, the Center reminded that any individual wishing to take the test must first make an appointment online. The Center also said that there is no need to arrive at the test location earlier than the appointment time.
The test site only has capacity to accommodate people whose appointment is within the next hour of their arrival. Others must wait outside the test zone.
The Center reiterated that non-resident workers in Macau without a Zhuhai hukou or residence card are not exempted from the 14-day isolation by the relevant Zhuhai entity.
Starting from yesterday at 6 a.m., qualified Zhuhai workers can enter Macau and be exempted from the 14-day quarantine. With each Covid-19 test only remaining valid for seven days, workers on both Zhuhai and Macau sides have to make an appointment to have a new test every week.
Considering the cost and trouble, many Zhuhai workers are reportedly choosing to temporarily live in Macau.
According to a report by TDM, several interviewed Zhuhai workers who crossed the Border Gate to Macau are temporarily lodging in Macau, assisted by their Macau employers.
Some Zhuhai workers still choose to travel between the two cities on a daily basis because they need to take care of their relatives in Zhuhai.
Meanwhile, a representative of the Public Security Police Force (PSP), Ma Chio Hong, noted that the activity at the Border Gate checkpoint has grown significantly since the early hours of yesterday because of increased crossing by non-resident workers from Zhuhai.
According to the figure cited by the officer, from midnight until 4 p.m. yesterday (May 11), the immigration officers registered a total of 9,701 entries to Macau and a total of 6,577 exits, accounting for increases of 49% and 37% respectively when compared to the previous day.
Non-resident workers from Zhuhai registered a significant hike of 1,500% on entries to Macau (907) and an even higher 2,000% increase in exits (1,781) when compared with the previous day.
Doctor Alvis Lo, from Conde de São Januário Hospital Center said that on May 10, ahead of the opening of the border for these workers, Macau health authorities performed a total of 4,892 nucleic acid tests. Such tests are part of the requirements for these workers to be able to cross the border to and from Zhuhai without undergoing a medical observation that would last for six to eight hours.
When asked if the lifting of restrictions would apply soon for non-resident workers from other regions of China or foreigners, Lo said that lifting of restrictions is being considered on a case-by-case basis and only applies to the places that have attained a safe and stable situation regarding the Covid-19 outbreak.
“The cities of Zhuhai and Macau have at the moment very similar situations regarding the disease status and that is why we decided to lift some restrictions to Zhuhai,” Lo said. Julie Zhu, Renato Marques