The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre (hereinafter referred to as the “Centre”) announces that, the third citywide nucleic acid testing will be conducted from 9:00 pm today (4 October) to 9:00 pm on 7 October. All local residents and people staying in Macao, including those who have undergone NAT sampling in the 24 hours preceding the commencement of this testing campaign, are required to get tested. Meanwhile, vaccinated persons must wait 24 hours after leaving the vaccination site before they can be sampled for nucleic acid testing.

The current population-wide testing programme is available free of charge in 41 sampling stations across the city, all of which have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after the last round of population-wide testing. The stations are divided into: general stations and self-paid stations (prior booking is required), and special care stations (for people with special needs who fail to make prior booking). Special care channels are available at all testing stations which open 24 hours a day. The 7 special care testing stations provide walk-in service for people in need of special care who fail to make prior booking; these people can be accompanied by one person if necessary. To shorten the queuing time, people in need of special care are suggested to book the test in general testing stations with the assistance of families or friends, and use the priority channel in the general testing stations.

Prior booking is required in general testing stations, members of the public are urged to arrive in their corresponding station on time, or no earlier than 1 hour in advance of the scheduled time if needed be; late arrivals will need to book again. Original of identity document (same document used in Macao Health Code), booking code and Health Code must be presented for the testing.

Website for booking citywide NAT sampling (https://eservice.ssm.gov.mo/allpeoplernatestbook) has been put into operation at 4:00 pm today; relevant testing result will not be uploaded to the Macao Health Code, and cannot be used for immigration purpose.  For the convenience of the public, there are 3 self-paid stations in place to provide paper NAT report, their testing results will be upload to the Macao Health Code for immigration purpose, and will be counted in the citywide NAT programme. Prior booking is also required for self-paid NAT test, booking link: https://eservice.ssm.gov.mo/rnatestbook/V21/. Unless in emergency or other necessary situations, members of the public are urged to stay at home and avoid going out.

According to the Centre, to optimize crowd management, the booking system for citywide NAT operates on the basis of sampling stations which enables accurate control of users; real-time waiting information (namely no. of sampling booths in each testing station, no. of people waiting, expected waiting time, and no. of bookings) at different stations will be disseminated once every 4 hours by diversified means. Expected waiting time will be shown in three colours: green colour indicates waiting time of less than 30 minutes, yellow colour indicates waiting time between 31 to 59 minutes, and red colours indicates waiting time of 60 minutes or more.  The public are advised to schedule a booking as soon as possible, and to learn about the latest waiting situation before leaving home.

Yellow code holders may get tested at any testing stations, whereas red code holders are required to take the test at the sampling station in Conde de Sao Januario General Hospital. If developing fever or other symptoms, medical attention should be sought by using an ambulance. Bedridden or immobile persons are suggested to request assistance from families and friends; those with difficulties may call the Social Welfare Bureau’s 24-hour hotline at 28261126 for assistance.

From 9:00 pm of 4 October to 9:00 pm of 7 October 2021

List of citywide NAT sampling stations