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Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025
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Macau eases visitors' PCR time frame
Macau has relaxed Covid test requirements to allow travelers to present proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of entry from today.
Previously, all travelers entering "Vegas of the East" must show a PCR test result within 48 hours.
It will also stop classifying mainland areas based on Covid risks, and cancel its regulations on risk zones.
The further relaxation came after Macau from Saturday allowed travelers from Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas to observe five days of home quarantine instead of a compulsory hotel stay or in a hotel of their choosing. However, they cannot transit to the mainland until after the eighth day and were also subject to "5+3" curbs across the border.
Macau reported two Covid deaths and 97 infections Sunday.
Both are men, aged 56 and 63, and suffer from esophageal cancer and tuberculosis. One was triple vaccinated and the other was unjabbed.
News of the easing came as Hong Kong reported 39 more Covid deaths and 15,383 infections.
The Centre for Health Protection said 863 of these were imported, and the rest locally transmitted.
More than 950 schools reported 3,528 infections in 2,989 students and 539 teaching staff.
Thirty-eight care homes were hit, with 76 residents catching the virus.
The SAR's death toll since the fifth wave - which started on December 31 - stands at 10,997.
Over 4,105 are in public hospitals, including 127 in critical and 136 serious conditions. Forty-one patients are in intensive care.
A male ward for the intellectually disabled at Castle Peak Hospital has seen 17 patients come down with Covid since Thursday. One is in a serious condition and the rest stable.
A patient group called on authorities to provide a "long-acting antibody combination" injection for the immunocompromised.
Hong Kong Alliance of Patients' Organizations has surveyed 212 people with weak immunity, including those who have immunity diseases, have received organ transplants and are undergoing kidney dialysis.
Almost 60 percent of respondents are not sure whether the medications and treatment they are under will reduce the effectiveness of Covid jabs. Over 60 percent said they had to cut down on going out.
More than 90 percent want a "long-acting antibody combination" to strengthen their immunity.
The injection contains antibodies extracted from Covid recoverees. So far, some 3,200 chronically ill patients have received such jabs.
Government adviser Ivan Hung Fan-ngai said "The antibody combination works well against the coronavirus. Many of them generate a high level of antibodies equivalent to three Covid shots."
It will also stop classifying mainland areas based on Covid risks, and cancel its regulations on risk zones.
The further relaxation came after Macau from Saturday allowed travelers from Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas to observe five days of home quarantine instead of a compulsory hotel stay or in a hotel of their choosing. However, they cannot transit to the mainland until after the eighth day and were also subject to "5+3" curbs across the border.
Macau reported two Covid deaths and 97 infections Sunday.
Both are men, aged 56 and 63, and suffer from esophageal cancer and tuberculosis. One was triple vaccinated and the other was unjabbed.
News of the easing came as Hong Kong reported 39 more Covid deaths and 15,383 infections.
The Centre for Health Protection said 863 of these were imported, and the rest locally transmitted.
More than 950 schools reported 3,528 infections in 2,989 students and 539 teaching staff.
Thirty-eight care homes were hit, with 76 residents catching the virus.
The SAR's death toll since the fifth wave - which started on December 31 - stands at 10,997.
Over 4,105 are in public hospitals, including 127 in critical and 136 serious conditions. Forty-one patients are in intensive care.
A male ward for the intellectually disabled at Castle Peak Hospital has seen 17 patients come down with Covid since Thursday. One is in a serious condition and the rest stable.
A patient group called on authorities to provide a "long-acting antibody combination" injection for the immunocompromised.
Hong Kong Alliance of Patients' Organizations has surveyed 212 people with weak immunity, including those who have immunity diseases, have received organ transplants and are undergoing kidney dialysis.
Almost 60 percent of respondents are not sure whether the medications and treatment they are under will reduce the effectiveness of Covid jabs. Over 60 percent said they had to cut down on going out.
More than 90 percent want a "long-acting antibody combination" to strengthen their immunity.
The injection contains antibodies extracted from Covid recoverees. So far, some 3,200 chronically ill patients have received such jabs.
Government adviser Ivan Hung Fan-ngai said "The antibody combination works well against the coronavirus. Many of them generate a high level of antibodies equivalent to three Covid shots."
