Nucleic acid-test scheme aims to facilitate boundary-crossing commuting by Macao ID holders

[The latest official news] The Government has today launched a new phase of a regular scheme enabling human nucleic acid testing that seeks to facilitate commuting by Macao ID holders that live either in Zhuhai or Zhongshan, and that wish to travel to and from Macao in order to attend either their workplace or school.

The move had been announced during the Wednesday (6 May) press conference held by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre. A Health Bureau official said the scheme sought to reduce further the risk of community-level spread of disease, in the light of entry-restriction measures in place in neighbouring cities, and that were applicable to Macao ID holders.

People wishing to undergo such tests must hold at the same time Macao ID cards, mainland travel permit for Hong Kong and Macao residents, and mainland resident permits. Approximately 15,000 Macao ID holders are covered by the new phase of the nucleic acid-testing scheme.

Those persons are entitled to receive a nucleic acid test every seven days. Results would be available within 24 hours of the sample being taken. The test results would be delivered to each individual via their unique health-status identification data as generated by the Government’s self-declaration system. A negative test result, along with an up-to-date health declaration would facilitate those people’s cross-boundary trips.

Nucleic acid tests are available for eligible Macao ID holders from 9am to 9pm daily at the Taipa Ferry Terminal, via prior appointment booked online at https://app.ssm.gov.mo/rnatestbook/. The first test is free, and subsequent tests cost 180 patacas each time. Charges are waived for students and teachers that are Macao ID holders but live across the boundary and come to Macao either to study or work. (More)