Macau re-imposes Covid containment as infection spreads | World News

Macau authorities have reinstated draconian COVID-19 restrictions, including locking down a major casino over the weekend after a handful of cases were detected, even as China announced easing of visa rules for visitors to the world’s largest gambling hub.

Authorities locked down MGM China’s MGM Cotai casino resort on Sunday, and asked staff and guests to stay in the meantime until Nov. 1. During this period, all 700,000 residents of Macau will have to undergo daily rapid antigen tests, the government said.

The casino closures have dealt a blow to operators who have been battling China’s “zero COVID” restrictions for more than two and a half years, losing millions of dollars a month.

Until last week, Macau had been free of the coronavirus for more than three months. The swift return of restrictions marks a potential setback for industry executives and investors eager for a quick revival of gambling revenue in China’s special administrative region.

However, the outlook for tourism to Macau has improved, with China’s immigration bureau on Monday saying mainland residents will use an online visa system to travel to the former Portuguese colony from Nov. 1.

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In-person applications have been required for the past two and a half years due to COVID-19 restrictions, but the bureau said the government has decided to offer e-visas due to the increasing demand to visit the city due to the current stable COVID situation in Macau.

Shares in Hong Kong-listed Galaxy Entertainment and Wynn Macau fell more than 3 percent in early trade on Monday, but then reversed course to trade in positive territory.

Macau casino executives also said a decision on the new license could be made as early as this week.

Macau’s six casino operators – Sands China, Wynn Macau, Galaxy Entertainment, MGM China, Melco Crown and SJM Holdings – are waiting for the government to decide whether they will receive new licenses to allow them to operate in 2023. continue to operate.

Any operator unable to obtain a new license will be required to return its premises to the government. The new licensing terms will be 10 years, up from 20 years previously, allowing operators to recoup the billions of dollars they had to invest under government mandates in less time.