A project manager's perspective on Macau's COVID-19 crisis
No fistfights over bathroom tissue and other commodities at supermarkets in the Special Administrative Region.
Being a Macau permanent resident, I can only praise the way the Macau government is managing the crisis in one of the world’s highest-ranking tourism destinations in terms of number of visitors and per capita tourism spending.
The most visible and publicized action was the Macau government’s decision on February 4 to issue a temporary closure order for the casinos. Combined with the Hong Kong government’s announcement to temporary close downtown ferry terminals, all sailing services between the two cities were suspended until further notice.
These executive decisions lead to a citywide drop to single-digit hotel occupancy, and 28 hotels subsequently suspended operations. The Macau government has urged casino operators not to terminate any workers.
In late January, the government acted quickly by preventing Hubei residents from entering Macau, and by isolating and transferring tourists from Hubei province already in Macau to a hotel converted into an isolation center. At the same time, the government suspended noncritical government services and closed cinemas and entertainment venues.
Over the Chinese New Year’s holiday, the government closed all schools, first until February 10, February 17, and then indefinitely. Many companies have asked employees to come to the office on alternate days or to work from home.
In addition, the government announced earlier this week that non-resident workers who have been on the mainland must remain under medical surveillance for 14 days in Zhuhai before entry into Macau. Non-resident workers arriving by air are quarantined in Macau for a period of 14 days and receive an allowance of 8,759 patacas (nearly US$1,100) per person.
The Transport Bureau has made it mandatory for passengers to wear a mask on public transportation. The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre has rationed face masks to avoid panic buying and black marketeering: Macau residents and non-resident workers are entitled to purchase a maximum of 10 face masks per 10-day period at designated pharmacies and government health clinics.
Government vehicles are continuously patrolling the territory, broadcasting recorded messages in four languages, urging residents to stay indoors. There appears to be an increased armed police presence in the downtown area, conducting identity checks in teams of three officers.
These measures and others have resulted in the Special Administrative Region not having any new cases of infection for 15 consecutive days, as of February 20. The government will invest US$250 million to boost the economy once the outbreak subsides, by giving permanent residents pre-loaded cards. In addition, each permanent resident will receive an extra health coupon. Overall, an excellent case study of a best-in-class crisis management performance!
Meanwhile, the Macau S.A.R. Government authorized casinos to re-open for business as of midnight Thursday after the fortnight’s mandatory closure. From the 41 casinos, 29 reopened, but let’s just say that there was no stampede to get in, as stringent controls on visitor entry, the suspension of ferry services and the moratorium on the individual visa scheme remain in place.
Gambling accounts for four-fifths of Macau government revenues, but unlike the late warning of Typhoon Hato and its devastating consequences, any real or perceived “casino factor” has played no part in the government’s determination and decisiveness to deal with the current outbreak.
Macau S.A.R. welcomed 39.4 million visitors in 2019. I cannot remember the streets and historical sites this empty from well before the handover 20 years ago. I must admit that we have taken advantage of the opportunity to go sightseeing! Masked-up of course…
While a lot of uncertainty about the medium and long-term outlook remains, one thing we can expect to come out of this crisis is a renewed debate on home-officing with enabling technology.
Happy hotel openings!
Gert Noordzy, founder and managing director, Northside Consulting, Macau S.A.R.
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