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Less than 24 hours after Macao reported their first imported nCoV2019 case, we have word of a second case, along with some government announcements on the sale of masks, and adjustments being made to Macao's New Year's Eve festivities.
Second confirmed case of new coronavirus in Wuhan in Macao
Source: Department of Health (SS)
Release date: Tuesday, January 23, 2020 09:47
Health Bureau said that the second confirmed case of Wuhan new coronavirus, the patient 66 years old, male, Wuhan tourists, yesterday (22) afternoon through the port of entry into Macao by the Health Bureau quarantine personnel detected fever, The temperature was 38.7 degrees and he was rushed to the Special Emergency Department of the Earl of Ren General Hospital for further examination, which tested positive for the new coronavirus. Details of the confirmed case will be announced at a press conference at 11:00 this morning.
There are media reports (see CNN report Macao just canceled its Lunar New Year celebrations) suggesting Macao is cancelling some of the New Year's Eve events due to the risk of virus transmission, although a visit to the Macao Govt. Website and Tourism Board website doesn't turn up any blanket announcements (yet).
Instead, the most recent announcement (below) indicates they are adjusting hours of operation and imposing prevention and control measures at some of the venues.
Cooperated with prevention and control work, the opening hours of the Lunar New Year market were adjusted to 8 pm
source:Municipal Services Department (IAM)Release date:January 23, 2020 12:39
In response to the latest situation of the new coronavirus pneumonia and the cooperation with the SAR government's prevention and control work, the operating hours of the Lunar New Year's Market in the City Department's Tashi Square and Youhan Park will be adjusted. On the 24th, it will end as early as 8 pm. Please pay attention to it.
In addition, the two firecrackers, fireworks and rocket launching areas located on the waterfront of Sun Yat Sen Parkway near Macau ’s New Town Reclamation Area and Taipa ’s Admiralty Spartan Admiralty Road will be opened from noon on January 24.
Various prevention and control measures, including temperature monitoring at the entrance, and implementation of crowd control in accordance with the situation, etc., hope that citizens and tourists will cooperate and follow the instructions of the on-site staff. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.
The Urban Services Department will continue to maintain communication with the new Coronavirus Coordination and Coordination Centre to cope with the latest situation and coordinate various prevention and control tasks.
While we don't know how efficiently this novel coronavirus transmits from person-to-person , Epidemiologists remember well the lessons of 1918, where it was demonstrated that influenza epidemics can surge in the wake of large gatherings.
During the fall wave of the Spanish Flu most cities instituted strict public health ordinances; they closed schools, movie houses, pool rooms, restaurants . . even churches. Those cities that took these measures generally saw much lower levels of death and illness.But Philadelphia went ahead with a massive Liberty Loan parade on September 28th of that year, apparently heartened by the low number of flu cases reported in Pennsylvania to that point.
What happened next is best demonstrated by the following graph, which depicts an explosion of pandemic flu cases beginning just days after the parade.
The chart above, taken from the PNAS journal article entitled Public Health Interventions and Pandemic Intensity During the 1918 Influenza Pandemic , shows the excess mortality in two American cities. The tall spike represents Philadelphia, while the lower curve represents St. Louis.
Over the next three weeks, at least 6,081 deaths from influenza and 2,651 deaths from pneumonia were registered in Pennsylvania, most occurring in Philadelphia (CDC source).So it is understandable that the mass gatherings and massive human migration that takes place of the Lunar New year holidays are particularly worrisome with this emerging virus spreading across Asia.
Of course, this novel coronavirus may not transmit as readily as the 1918 flu. But that's something we aren't apt to know for several more weeks.
Face masks are de rigueur in Asia during every regular flu season, but even more so now, and Macao's government is opening up their stockpiles (while they last) to the public. There is a limit of 10 masks per person, to prevent hoarding.
Government clarifies residents need to buy masks at their own expense
source:New Coronavirus Coordination Center for Strains
Release date:January 23, 2020 11:45
According to rumors that the Health Bureau will distribute masks to Macao residents free of charge, the new Coronavirus Coordination Coordination Center once again clarified today that masks must be purchased at their own expense. Starting this evening, Macao residents and foreign employees can purchase masks at 54 pharmacies agreed by the government on the basis of identity documents, and also call not to spread false information.
In response to the situation of buying masks in the market, the Health Bureau will launch a program to protect the supply of masks to Macao residents this evening, and will announce a list of 54 pharmacies that can purchase masks. At that time, residents can hold Macao residents' ID cards, and foreign employees can purchase masks at the pharmacy at their own expense with a foreign employee ID card. Each person can buy 10 masks at a time, and they can repeat the purchase after 10 days.
The Health Bureau believes that after the launch of the plan, it can effectively alleviate the situation of buying masks in the market. The public does not need to panic or rush to buy masks.
