Thailand removes Macau from high risk list, but flights still suspended

The Macau SAR is one of four territories that Thailand has removed from its list of dangerous disease zones, which means that visitors from the SAR will be treated with fewer precautions upon arrival in the country. The other regions that were removed are mainland China, South Korea and Hong Kong.
However, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand issued an order over the weekend to extend the ban on international passenger flights to the kingdom until June 30. Therefore, all international flight permits granted for before this date are cancelled.
Currently, only AirMacau is operating flights to Bangkok, as cited in yesterday’s departure information of the Macau International Airport (MIA).
According to Thai reports, the countries that remain on the dangerous disease zones’ list include Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the U.K., Japan, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Iran and the United States.
Visitors arriving from these countries are required to present health certificates issued within three days prior to their flights and should also present evidence of health insurance. These visitors are also required to install and use a mobile monitoring application.
Similarly, Macau still has an entry ban in place for foreign tourists and non-resident workers. There is no confirmed date for when the ban will be lifted.
Yesterday was the consecutive 39th day on which no new Covid-19 cases have been recorded in Macau.
Meanwhile, local reports note that the city’s airport is only operating 20 flights daily, with about 5,220 flights cancelled this month due to the impact of the pandemic.
Last month, only 950 passengers arrived in Macau via the MIA. The significant reduction in arrivals by air is mainly due to stricter regulations by the Macau SAR and the fewer flight options that have followed from them.
Last month, authorities announced that they required all those traveling to Macau – including the city’s own residents – to present a copy of a certificate that states that they are not infected with Covid-19. Failure to present one will result in them being refused from boarding the flight to Macau.
However, Macau residents who need such a certificate for their necessary outbound travel will not be able to obtain one from a public medical institution in the SAR.
The presentation of a medical certificate only applies to local residents and mainland visitors with the Individual Visit Scheme as they are the only ones that can enter the region, as well as residents of Hong Kong, Taiwan and blue card holders living in Zhuhai.
Since last Monday, all non-resident workers who live in Zhuhai can enter Macau without having to go through quarantine. Three conditions must be met cumulatively: having an address or holding a residence card in Zhuhai; holding a certificate of a negative test result for Covid-19 valid for seven days; and obtaining a ‘green’ Macau health code.
For those who meet the three requirements, current restrictions such as observing a 14-day quarantine in Zhuhai to be able to enter Macau will be lifted.