Macau casinos shut down amid latest COVID outbreak

Non-essential businesses including casinos in Macau have been asked to shut down their operations until July 18 following a COVID outbreak in the special administrative region of China.

Macau and several cities in mainland China have asked residents to stay at home, with only essential businesses and workers allowed to operate for now. The over 30 casinos in Macau will shut down total operations for a week following the directives by the government.

This is the first time casinos in Macau will close down completely since a similar situation unfolded in February 2020. 

More than 1,500 people have tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Authorities have stated that over 19,000 people have been put in quarantine in order to stop the spread.

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The city police will oversee the flow of movements. Only one person from a family is allowed to go out for groceries. Sanctions will be imposed on those who are found to disobey the orders.

In a press release, Macau’s Government Information Bureau noted that all businesses would need to cease operations unless they were deemed essential.

“All industries and commercial companies and venues in Macao will be required to suspend operation from after the stroke of midnight on 11 July until the stroke of midnight on 18 July 2022 inclusive, except those in three categories of activity deemed essential to the community and to the day-to-day lives of the members of the public,” the statement said.

In the last month, residents in Macau have undergone COVID-19 tests more than five times. Following the new measures set in place by the government, citizens will be required to take a daily test this week.

Of the over 650,000 residents of Macau, more than 90% have taken a second dose of the COVID vaccine.