Workers from the Chinese mainland with jobs in Macao who carry Zhuhai ID or residence permits and have passed novel coronavirus tests may now cross the border without centralized quarantine for medical observation.

Many migrant workers in Macao hadn't returned to the Chinese mainland for three months because those arriving in Zhuhai from Macao had faced 14 days of quarantine since March. The new border-crossing policy took effect at 6 am May 11.

With the improved domestic epidemic situation, mandatory quarantine restrictions had been lifted for Macao and Zhuhai students and teachers bound either way since 6 am May 3.

Man employed in Macao is checked at Immigration Inspection stop upon return to Zhuhai on May 11 [Photo courtesy nanfangplus]

The Maoshengwei Station of Exit-Entry Frontier Inspection in the Zhuhai-Macao Cross-Border Industrial Zone in Gongbei at first forecasted passenger peaks with the inflow of those who were previously prevented from exit and entry due to strengthened border control during the epidemic crisis. 

In response, the Cross-Border Industrial Zone Checkpoint has added two staffed channels at each of the exit and entry halls, bringing the total to eight. Self-service inspection channels are currently not available.

As of May 8, persons exempted from centralized quarantine became no longer subject to the on-site nucleic acid tests. Instead, tests can be done at designated qualified medical institutions in both Zhuhai and Macao in advance. Zhuhai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine (2nd Renmin Hospital), the closest third-grade public hospital near Macao, has received a daily average of 2,000 migrant workers since May 10.

The hospital in Xiawan of Gongbei has assigned more medical staff, volunteers, and security guards, added tents and seats, and also extended service hours for nucleic acid tests to 7:30 am to 9 pm including noontime.