Macau tightens border checks after pneumonia cases reported in Russia's Irkutsk
Macau has strengthened border precautions after unidentified pneumonia cases were reported in Russia's Irkutsk region, though the local health risk is assessed as low. Travellers who visited the region in the past 14 days must make health declarations and undergo medical screening.
Macau has stepped up preventive measures at border checkpoints following reports of unidentified pneumonia cases in Russia's Irkutsk region, although the health risk to Macau is assessed as low, the Health Bureau said.
The bureau said it is continuing temperature monitoring and health assessments for travellers at major entry and exit points, strengthening fever screening and requiring people who have visited the region in the 14 days before arrival to make a health declaration and undergo medical screening.
Suspected cases found at checkpoints will be transferred immediately to Conde S. Januário Hospital for further assessment and examination. Authorities are also maintaining information exchanges with the World Health Organization and neighbouring health departments, adjusting prevention and control strategies as the risk changes.
On Wednesday, the Health Bureau's port health quarantine team and the hospital's infection control committee held training for quarantine staff on putting on and removing personal protective equipment and infection control. The training covered equipment procedures, contamination risk management, hand hygiene and on-site infection control.
The bureau said the trained staff will form a PPE training team to train cross-departmental frontline personnel, including police, customs and marine and water bureau staff, as well as other airport and checkpoint workers such as security and cleaning staff, to strengthen preparedness and self-protection.