Macau Vaccination Rate Hits 80 Percent, But Zero COVID-19 Policy Remains

March 11, 2022 Macau Crime & Legal

Macau health officials say the Chinese Special Administrative Region (SAR) has hit a major COVID-19 vaccination milestone, with 80% of the enclave population now fully inoculated against the coronavirus.

Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center announced yesterday that more than eight in 10 residents have received the needed number of government-approved COVID-19 vaccine doses to be considered fully vaccinated. Enclave health officials say the achievement presents a “solid basis for the creation of an immunological barrier in Macau.”

Despite being located adjacent to mainland China, where the coronavirus is thought to have originated, Macau has confirmed only 82 COVID-19 cases throughout the pandemic’s duration. The region has not confirmed any deaths as a result of the coronavirus.

Health officials say there are three active cases in the region.

Zero COVID Policy
Macau has adhered to China’s zero COVID-19 policy, which requires a strict and immediate response to even a handful of new positive coronavirus cases. In Macau, the SAR has routinely limited entry to nonessential travelers when COVID-19 clusters have arisen.

The policy has been oppressive on Macau’s six casino operators that continue to operate at greatly reduced business levels compared with 2019. While gaming is booming in Las Vegas and other major gaming markets where COVID-19 restrictions have largely been lifted, Macau casinos are losing millions of dollars each month. They do so by keeping their massive resorts open and workforces on the payroll.

Gross gaming revenue across Macau last year totaled $10.8 billion. The casinos won $36.4 billion in 2019.