The Chinese economy has been hit badly and is continuing on the same path as the country’s “Zero-Covid” policy remains in place. China enforces complete shutdowns in vast areas in case of COVID-19 breakouts.
As the number of cases increased from last week, Macau, a special administrative region of China, on Tuesday carried out mass testing of its 700,000 population.
All the people in the world’s biggest gambling hub have been commanded to take a PCR test on Tuesday and then test themselves on daily basis with rapid antigen tests (RAT). Authorities hope that the PCR testing can be finished in a single day as Typhoon (storm) Nalgae makes its way into southern China at the time of the order.
Along with the guests, the staff is also told to stay inside the hotel for three days. The outbreak occurred three months of nil Covid cases.
The authorities took the initiative of turning the MGM Cotai, a major casino hotel in the gaming hub Macau, into a quarantine, impounding 1,500 people inside. It has lost its sheen post-pandemic and has not yet flourished like it used to, unlike Last Vegas which has boomed during this time. Macau’s slowing economy has caused the financial collapse of numerous of its US-based businesses as travel restrictions to reduce the number of clients.
The casino said, “In compliance with the Macau Special Administrative Region Government of Pandemic Prevention and Control, our restaurants, spa, gym, swimming pool, and retail shops in MGM Cotai are closed and shuttle bus service for MGM Cotai is suspended until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
Quarantining the hotel comes as fresh lockdowns have been placed in Wuhan, suspected of originating coronavirus. In addition, Guangzhou’s schools and restaurants have been closed, while Beijing and Shanghai witnessed certain districts targeted for lockdowns.
President Xi Jinping has advocated for the “Zero-Covid” policy very strongly, crushing the hopes of investors for an ease in the restrictions to support the slowing economy.
