*By Therese Tu
The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has required all frozen goods supply chain workers to undergo nucleic acid testing every 3 days, starting from today (Monday).
‘Front-line employees’ working in the frozen goods supply chain, including import, loading and unloading, transportation, storage, and sales, will be subjected to conduct nucleic acid testing every 3 days, shortening the previous 7-day Covid test requirement.
This measure is implemented to “strictly prevent the possibility of the virus spreading to Macau”, according to the same press release.
The IAM also added that they will negotiate with the health bureau to set up more designated nucleic acid testing sites for the frozen goods supply chain employees.
Starting from last week, IAM has started to sterilize all outer packaging of foreign imported fruits, with an average number of about 100,000 boxes per week.
The IAM also conducted nucleic acid testing of frozen goods, fruit and related facilities, taking an average of 300 samples every day.
The neighbouring city of Zhuhai has announced that the new outbreak could be linked to exposure to contaminated imported frozen goods, according to the city’s health authorities.
The Zhuhai government also implemented similar measures such as sterilizing the goods and conducting nucleic acid testing for the staff, goods and facilities, to prevent the possibility of infection.
