Macau stops tracking asymptomatic cases

Government’s online platform for medical evaluation

In a move that follows China, Macau will no longer track asymptomatic cases. This is because such cases have become impossible to track now that mass testing is no longer required.

This move is another step in the country’s departure from strict antivirus policies.

Between Nov. 28 and Tuesday, the city recorded over 1,300 cases, with Tuesday having the highest daily number of 411.

With the cessation of counting asymptomatic cases, only 45 cases were reported Wednesday.

The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre stated that only cases of patients admitted to the public hospital, Alto do Coloane, or to a hotel for medical observation will be reported.

From Wednesday, those infected with Covid are permitted to isolate from home in an apparent attempt to begin “living with Covid”, a departure from the former zero-Covid policy.

Those infected are only advised to upload their Covid status to the government’s online platform for medical evaluation.

Depending on how they meet a criterion, they would need to only isolate from home, or from a designated hotel.

In China there appears to be a rapid increase in new infections, raising concerns that its health system could be overwhelmed in the same way seen in other countries early in the pandemic.

So far, many of those newly sick are staying home, and there has been little evidence of a surge in patient numbers. But it is difficult to get a clear picture of the spread, and the new reporting protocols could make that even more difficult.