PLANS by Macau officials to allow quarantine-free travel by Hongkongers who have been vaccinated have taken a step back due to one locally transmitted Covid case in the neighbouring city.
Macau authorities had earlier planned to consider entry from Hong Kong if 14 days had passed in the financial hub without any local infection.
It emerged that a cleaner at a hotel in Hong Kong used by quarantined travellers had tested positive for Covid, which has scuppered hopes of the Macau quarantine-free entry scheme starting.
Most visitors from mainland China are permitted to enter Macau without quarantine but no foreign arrivals are allowed. Residents of Macau can re-enter while those from Hong Kong and Taiwan have to undergo quarantines of up to 21 days.
Macau had earlier agreed with their Hong Kong counterparts to thrash out travel arrangements for vaccinated Hongkongers but have “reset the countdown clock” and reconsider the 14 and 28 day infection-free targets that were set, Asia Gaming Brief reports.
Some 51 Macau hotels offering 2,700 rooms had been ready to take part in the Hong Kong visitor scheme. Macau authorities said visits to casino floors would not be permitted if the scheme went ahead.
Meanwhile, capacity at entertainment venues in Hong Kong has been raised to 85 per cent under an easing of anti-Covid restrictions beginning today. Other restrictions such as a four-person limit on gathering in public and four to a table at restaurants will be extended until July 21.
