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Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18(14):5317-5328. doi:10.7150/ijbs.70177 This issue Cite

Research Paper

COVID-19 prevention and control strategies: learning from the Macau model

Yan-Jie Zhao, PhD^1,2,3*, Jia-Qi Xu, MSc^4*, Wei Bai, PhD^2,3*, He-Li Sun, MSc^2,3*, Bing Shui, PhD⁵, Zhi-Xin Yang, PhD⁶, Jingbo Huang, Ed.D⁷, Robert D. Smith, PhD², Yuan-Jia Hu, PhD^4✉, Yu-Tao Xiang, MD, PhD^2,3✉

1. The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital & the Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
2. Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, & Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
3. Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
4. Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
5. Faculty of Law, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
6. Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
7. United Nations University Institute in Macau, Macau SAR, China.
* These authors contributed equally to the work.

✉ Corresponding authors: Dr. Yu-Tao Xiang, 1/F, Building E12, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR, China. Fax: +853-2288-2314; Phone: +853-8822-4223; E-mail: ytxiangedu.mo; or Dr. Yuan-Jia Hu, 1/F, Building E12, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR, China. E-mail: yuanjiahuedu.mo More

Abstract

Background: Macau is a densely populated international tourist city. Compared to most tensely populated countries/territories, the prevalence and mortality of COVID-19 in Macau are lower. The experiences in Macau could be helpful for other areas to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This article introduced the endeavours and achievements of Macau in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: Both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods were used to explore the work, measures, and achievements of Macau in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: The results revealed that Macau has provided undifferentiated mask purchase reservation services, COVID-19 vaccination services to all residents and non-residents in Macau along with delivering multilingual services, in Chinese, English and Portuguese, to different groups of the population. To facilitate the travels of people, business and trades between Macau and mainland China, the Macau government launched the Macau Health Code System, which uses the health status declaration, residence history declaration, contact history declaration of the declarant to match various relevant backend databases within the health authority and provide a risk-related colour code operations. The Macau Health Code System connects to the Chinese mainland's own propriety health code system seamlessly, whilst effectively protecting the privacy of the residents. Macau has also developed the COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment system, the Nucleic Acid Test Appointment system, the Port and Entry/Exit Quarantine system, the medical and other supporting systems.

Conclusion: The efforts in Macau have achieved remarkable results in COVID-19 prevention and control, effectively safeguarding the lives and health of the people and manifesting the core principle of “serving the public”. The measures used are sustainable and can serve as an important reference for other countries/regions.

Keywords: COVID-19, Macau, strategy

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