China: Macau intensifying COVID-19 entry and quarantine requirements as of July 30 /update 50

Event

Officials in Macau have tightened border restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as of July 30. Citizens of mainland China, Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan can still enter the territory if they have not been to other locations in the previous 21 days. However, officials will require entrants from mainland China have a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours from July 31. Inbound passengers from medium- and high-risk areas of mainland China must quarantine for 14 days at designated hotels. As of July 30, the requirements are in place for travelers from the following locations:

• Liaoning Province: Rongle Community, Dadong District, Shenyang

• Jiangsu Province: Nanjing and Xihu Community, Siyang County

• Sichuan Province: Factory Zone No. 1 in Fucheng District, Mianyang City

• Yunnan Province: Ruili City and Longchuan County, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture

Travelers from Zhangjiajie and Changde, Hunan Province, since July 17; Guanghua, Qingyang District, and Shiyang, Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, in Chengdu since July 25; and Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, since July 17 must quarantine at designated facilities until 14 days from their exposure and undergo regular COVID-19 testing. These travelers must also participate in self-health management, which entails restricting travel to work or school, wearing a facemask in public, and twice-daily temperature checks, until the 14-day exposure period ends. Travelers already in Macau from Chengdu, Shenyang, and Dalian must undergo several COVID-19 tests during the first five days after arrival or until the 14-day exposure period ends.

Officials require travelers from Taiwan to take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of departure and quarantine for 21 days at a government-designated facility. Permitted arrivals from Hong Kong must provide a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within 24 hours of arrival, quarantine for 14 days, and undergo an additional seven days of self-health management. Affected people must receive a negative COVID-19 test result the day before the management period ends or depart Macau during the management period.

Returning citizens and permitted international travelers from international locations must take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure, quarantine for 21 days at a designated location upon arrival, and undergo self-health management for seven more days. Officials can increase quarantine to 28 days if passengers return a positive serological test result. Passengers that visited Brazil, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines within 28 days of arrival must present three negative PCR COVID-19 test results taken 24 hours apart, within seven days of arrival; the last test must take place within 72 hours of boarding flights. These travelers are subject to a 28-day quarantine in designated facilities. Authorities will extend quarantine to 35 days for individuals that have a positive serological test result. Travelers must pay quarantine fees; locals are exempt from the quarantine fee for their first entry but must pay for subsequent quarantine periods unless traveling for select purposes.

Officials have introduced a closed management system with Hong Kong for cargo crews. The program exempts shipping crew members from quarantine regulations if they undergo COVID-19 testing weekly, maintain adequate health standards, and refrain from disembarking in Hong Kong.

Transport between Macau and Hong Kong remains available only via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Several airlines have suspended flights at Macau International Airport (MFM); further flight cancellations are possible amid low demand. Authorities have also canceled ferry services from Dongguan; ferry service disruptions from Shenzhen and Zhuhai are also possible.

Domestic Restrictions
Authorities require travelers and residents to register their address or most frequented locations to receive a health code. Macau still requires COVID-19 testing for people attending social gatherings of more than 400 people. Facemasks remain mandatory in casinos, government offices, and on public transport. Thermal scanners are in place at all entry points into Macau, casinos, and many other businesses.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Consider postponing travel to Macau if impacted by travel restrictions. Allow additional time for immigration and health screenings. Delay travel if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny, immigration delays, or mandatory quarantine. Confirm reservations and business appointments.

Resources

Macau Health Bureau (Chinese and Portuguese)
Macau Higher Education Bureau