The Chinese gambling capital, Macau, announced a weeklong shutdown of casinos and non-essential businesses as the Chinese gambling capital battled its worst Covid outbreak to date. Andre Cheong, one of the top officials, said that Macau will go under “static management” for a week starting July 11 and people are required to stay at home. People who violate the rules might face up to two years in prison. The city reported 71 new cases on Saturday (July 9), increasing the total infections reported since the beginning of the outbreak to 1,374, a low number by international standards but nevertheless high, reported by AFP.
However, closing casinos, which in normal times account for nearly 80 per cent of the government’s earnings, will now have to be closed. Some public services and places like pharmacies and supermarkets can remain open. Despite strict health regulations, the city’s casinos had survived a 15-day closure at the beginning of the pandemic.
Also read | Macau uses two more casino hotels for COVID-19 medical facilities
More than 50 per cent of the city’s GDP and nearly one-fifth of the workforce are employed by the casinos, which is larger than Las Vegas.
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However, this week, after discovering 13 diseases connected to the location, police closed one of Macau’s most renowned casinos, the Grand Lisboa, trapping more than 500 people inside.
Also read | Macau locks down casino as Covid cases rise in world’s biggest gambling hub
Macau, the only city in China where casino gambling is legal, has seen one of the world’s strongest anti-virus measures, such as strict border controls, targeted lockdowns, and wiping out its essential tourism profits.
Residents of Macau may experience additional financial hardships as a result of an official’s declaration on Saturday (July 9) that employers are not required to pay employees during the Covid-related shutdown.
(With inputs from agencies)
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