Effective Saturday, Macau will ease quarantine protocols for overseas arrivals, Macau's health officials announced Friday.
Called the "5+3" policy, the new regulation removes the requirement of five-day isolated quarantine in favor of home quarantine.
However, home quarantine, which will now be the initial protocol instead of a follow-up measure after isolated observation, will be extended from three days to five.
Following the five-day quarantine period, arriving individuals are also required to stay in Macau for three additional days before they are allowed to depart the gambling-industry-focused special administrative region of China.
The policy dictates that those entering Macau must show proof of a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within 48 hours alongside a sufficient number of home COVID-19 rapid test kits.
Arriving passengers will be subject to one PCR test at customs, and can only enter Macau proper if the result is negative.
Once in home quarantine, Macau health officials said overseas arrivals are required to take a daily rapid test.
Health officials also said those entering from overseas will no longer have to book isolation hotels where they are subjected to medical observation, and will not have to pay for PCR tests.
In addition, international arrivals must remain in Macau for a minimum of nine days before being allowed to enter China.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel