CAM Epidemic Prevention Response Team Holds Emergency Meeting

2022-07-04

The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced that from 18th June to 3rd July, Macau has recorded the total number of positive case to 852, and 2 senior elders passed away. The assessment of the SAR Government’s epidemic forecast and early warning team showed that the local epidemic is caused by the BA.5 variant, and believes that Omicron BA.5 is highly transmissible, highly occult, and has a short incubation period. The Macau SAR Government announced that 650 medical staffs from the Mainland will join in this round of citywide NAT to provide assistance.

In order to ensure that Macau International Airport can provide uninterrupted passenger and cargo services under the current epidemic situation, front-line staff have been sticking to their posts to provide necessary services. Chairman of the Executive Committee of Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM) Dr. Deng Jun pointed out in the Epidemic Prevention Response Team Emergency Meeting that timely communication, timely handling, and strengthening of disinfection measures are necessary at the moment. It is also required to give warnings to those personnel and units who do not work well, and to demand for immediate improvement; it must comply with the government’s epidemic prevention requirements and implement relevant measures. In view of the fact that IAM recently found the imported cold chain food and fruit tested positive for the new coronavirus, he reminded the relevant staff handling cold chain goods to pay special attention to disinfection work and personnel defense measures to reduce any possible risks. He believes that anti-epidemic measures need to be adjusted dynamically, and it is also necessary to brainstorm ideas in a timely manner to plug possible loopholes and deficiencies.

Director of Airport Operations Department (AOD) Mr. Gary Geng reported on the recent epidemic prevention and other operation works. During the typhoon on 1st - 2nd July, EOC meetings were held in person and online at the same time for the first time. Typhoon prevention and epidemic prevention measures were implemented simultaneously to ensure airport safety and security. Since this outbreak of the epidemic on 20th June, frequencies of NAT carried out by front-line employees have been increased, and the frequencies of disinfection have been strengthened in all waiting areas, facilities and equipment, and airport vehicles. At present, all people entering the passenger terminal building need to show the green code of the Macau Health Code with a valid site code, and pass the temperature test before entering. Passengers with a yellow health code must contact the airline in advance, and can go to the airport only after obtaining permission from the airline. At the same time, RAT packs are provided for employees to complete the test and upload the negative test results before going to work every day. Measures such as allowing employees to park in the airport parking lots are introduced to reduce the risk of infection.

The SEMAC Security Company with the largest number of front-line staff, it’s Managing Director Mr. Leong Hon San stated that it was adjusted the staff have to take NAT twice every three days during this epidemic period. Work schedules for staff are mainly arranged to reduce the intersection of personnel and possible risks.

Executive Director Mr. Chu Tan Neng pointed out that departments or units that need to make shifts need to pay attention to avoiding the problem of overlapping shifts. He also agrees that it is more appropriate for front-line staff to take RAT with negative results before going to work every day. In terms of epidemic prevention policies, operating units need to continue to highly cooperate with the epidemic prevention measures of the SAR Government, and can increase requirements according to their own needs to ensure the smooth operation of airport as the port to the greatest extent.

Executive Director Mr. Kan Cheok Kuan provided support in capital flow and personnel-related financial arrangements, and tried the best to meet the needs of operation and epidemic prevention. At the same time, he paid close attention to the emergency management plans and personnel deployment of various operating units of the airport and believed that communication and understanding are strongly required and timely notification is the best practice shall be employed.

Executive Director Mr. Lei Si Tai has confidence in the implementation of epidemic prevention works carried out by AOD and believed that all operating units should be responsible for reporting the relevant situation in a timely manner, so that the airport can grasp the situation as much as possible and follow up. Regarding the disinfection work and preventive measures of the related staff handling cold chain goods, the ground handling service provider will be reminded again not to take it lightly.

Director of Planning and Commercial Development Department Ms. Winnie Hsu, Director of Executive Committee Office Ms. Katy Lo and Director of Corporate Communication and Policy Research Office Ms. Vicki Mou have respectively reported on their working scope and have discussed on aspects of strengthening communication with operating units about their responsibilities, the principles for arranging necessary decision-making meetings of company management, as well as the communication with the press and the management on public opinion, so as to consolidate understanding and arrange for implementation of relevant works and measures in an orderly manner.