Macau To Reopen Casinos As Covid Lockdown Eases At Weekend

July 21, 2022 Macau Crime & Legal

Macau is set to reopen its casinos at the weekend after a 12-day shutdown as the city’s coronavirus outbreak showed signs of easing, officials announced Wednesday.

The Chinese gambling hub had closed its casinos for the first time in more than two years as authorities ordered most businesses to shut in an attempt to control the city’s most serious outbreak to date.

Casinos normally account for around 80 percent of the Macau government’s income, but the pandemic has hammered the city’s fortunes as it sticks to Beijing’s zero-Covid model.

Officials on Wednesday announced that Macau will gradually reopen starting Saturday, though its borders will stay closed.

Gaming venues can operate “in a limited capacity” and must adhere to stringent anti-epidemic measures, Macau Health Bureau director Alvis Lo said at a briefing.

Rules for casinos and other businesses include thorough sanitation, mask-wearing in public areas and reducing staffing levels by half, Lo said.

An official assessment found casinos’ ventilation systems and cleaning to be compliant, while shopping malls had to remain closed as they fell short, officials added.