Macao closes its casinos for the first time in two years due to the rebound in infections of the omicron variant

July 10 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Macao authorities have ordered the closure of the territory’s casinos for the first time in two years as of Monday and for a week due to the rebound in cases of coronavirus, specifically in its omicron variant, especially contagious, throughout the last days.

The decision was announced this past Saturday by the executive president of the city, Ho Iat Seng, in a decree that will also suspend the exercise of all non-essential industrial and commercial companies during the same time.

The order recommends confinement but also imposes the mandatory use of face masks for all adults who go out on the street, reports the ‘South China Morning Post’, after the confirmation this Sunday of another 93 new cases of COVID-19, which brings the total number of infections to 1,467 since mid-June.

Macau’s gaming industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, posting a year-on-year drop of 68 percent and losing some 380 million euros.