2024 / 03 / 28         22~27°C         75~98%

CAM 11th Epidemic Prevention Response Committee (Expanded) Meeting Alarming Always to Enhance Airport Epidemic Prevention Work

2021 / 08 / 18

Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM) held the 11th Epidemic Prevention Response Committee (Expanded) Meeting in the morning of 17th August 2021, the participants expanded from the Committee members to Directors of all departments and General Managers of subsidiaries. The meeting aims to let all airport staff have a clear concept to set the airport’s epidemic prevention work as the long-term goal, keeping alarmed and staying vigilant, earnestly carry out epidemic prevention work and measures.

Taking into account the path of transmission in the Mainland, the Chief Executive and SAR Government have attached high importance to the epidemic prevention work specifically in the airport. The Executive Committee members of CAM have inspected the epidemic prevention work at the airport on 28th July and checked on spots the most updated works implemented together with department directors on 2nd August, in order to prevent evacuees from leaking.

The Macau SAR Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on 3rd August 2021, 4 confirmed infected with COVID-19 after further testing. As per instruction of the Chief Executive, after evaluation of the CDC, Macau SAR entered into a state of immediate prevention at 3:30pm on the day. CDC announced in the evening all Macau SAR inhabitants are required to take Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT) at 9am on 4th August, in 24 hours operation stations within 3 days. The state of immediate prevention was announced by the SAR Government to be ended at 10pm on 10th August. All passengers taking civil outbound flights need to have a NAT negative result proof with validity of 48 hours.

In accordance with the instructions of the Chief Executive, Macau International Airport (MIA) implements nucleic acid test (NAT) to the air cargo frontline personnel every day, the preventive measure is now extended to all frontline staffs in the airport which need to perform daily NAT, for the frontline support service personnel have to perform NAT every three days, for management of the company and back office staffs have to perform NAT every week.  According to the report from the Airport Operations Department (AOD), there are now 347 nucleic acid tests performed by various operating units of the airport every day. In terms of vaccination, the vaccination rate of all employees of CAM and its subsidiaries reached 68%.

On 4th August, The Civil Aviation Authority of Macau SAR issued a document requiring MIA to take full disinfection measures for all departing aircraft.  In addition, the National Health Commission's "Guidelines for the Normalization of the Prevention and Control of New Coronary Pneumonia Epidemics in Key Locations and Key Units and Key Populations (August 2021)" in the guidelines for wearing masks divide three types of key occupational groups, The first category is those in positions with high risk of overseas import and pollution transmission (airport porters, cleaners, etc.), the second category is staff of medical institutions; the third category is service staff in public places, the first type of personnel are required to wear particulate protective masks during the entire working period, and the second and third types of personnel shall wear medical surgical masks or higher protection level masks.

Dr. Deng Jun, Chairman of the CAM Executive Committee, who presided over the meeting pointed out that the mutant strains "Delta" and "Lambda", also known as the "Double Poison King", have been appearing in more than 30 countries and regions in the world according to relevant reports. “Lambda” was first discovered in Peru. It has the characteristics of rapid viral infection, high toxicity, and long incubation period. It must be paid attention to prevent infection and spreading.  Although the number of flights and passengers at Macau International Airport from 4th to 15th August have been significantly reduced, it is expected that airline companies will gradually restore market confidence in October and improve the flight recovery to the expected target according to the analysis of the Marketing Department. During the period of strengthening epidemic prevention, it is hoped that all employees will adhere to the company's mission: "Safety, Efficiency, Effectiveness" and never relax. On the one hand taking effective measures to prevent epidemics with strict implementation and prevention of omissions; on the other hand to strengthen protection of flight safety and security of passengers and cargo. Especially in special circumstances, every employee should acquire to take responsibility, strictly abide by the company’s various rules and regulations, perform the scope of duties, and must not be taken lightly and carelessly. Managers at all levels must work hard, strengthen supervision and work guidelines, find omissions in time, and take preventive measures.

Director of Finance and Administration Department Ms. Grace Cheang said that enhanced closed-loop management was adopted in CAM office building, including temperature taking, health code checking, seven-day nucleic acid negative record checking, etc., of all office staff; relevant registration had been done for visitors who are necessary to enter the building; internally, she had communicated with all departments to make work arrangements for emergency situations in advance, and also had collected the departure information of employees during this period, so as to prepare for future emergencies. Director of Logistic and General Aviation Development Department Mr. Frank Wu reported that Menzies Macau Airport Services Ltd. (Menzies) had conducted preventive disinfection according to the cargo type, source and other guidelines. All export goods should also be disinfected. Cargo from low-risk areas in the Mainland should also be disinfected immediately before being transferred out via MIA. And Menzies should require employees to use the highest level of protective equipment. Director of Operations Branch of AOD Ms. Christine Chung reported that the changes pointed out by AACM and SSM during their visit to the airport on 31st July had been completed one by one. All operating units at the venue were informed instantly about the epidemic prevention measures, and airlines as well as relevant units were notified to disinfect all aircraft according to the guidelines. She emphasized that she would like employees who are vaccinated to handle medium and high risk flights; during the period of the nucleic acid test for all Macao residents, AOD coordinated with the government and managed the airport station as well as provided assistance services. General Manager of Airport Information Management Solutions (AIMS) Ms. Sharon Wang said that staff were updated about the CAM epidemic prevention guidelines from time to time, and were required to strictly implement the preventive measures. Appropriate protective cloths were purchased for staff who provide frontline support services, and staff were encouraged to be vaccinated to raise the protective barrier. AIMS controls staff departure plans to minimize risks. Managing Director of SEMAC Security Company Mr. Paul Leong indicated that when “12 hours nucleic acid test negative result” was required for clearance between Macau and Zhuhai, the board supported the timely accommodation arrangements for the employees, which in turn did not affect the normal airport security operation, and suitable protective cloths were purchased for the employees.

Executive Director of CAM, Mr. Chu Tan Neng emphasized once again in the conclusion that the epidemic prevention work should not be slacked off, conditions should not be stressed during the period, everything should be notified and communicated, epidemic prevention measures should be implemented on every employee, and the responsibilities of each position should be ensured.

Executive Director of CAM, Mr. Kan Cheok Kuan thanked everyone for their work support during this period of time. He pointed out that the epidemic prevention should not be slacked off, and thought that the virus may coexist with humans for a long time or become permanent.

Executive Director of CAM, Mr. Lei Si Tai thanked all staff for their support and cooperation when the strengthening of the epidemic prevention measure was needed, including freight forwarders, ground handling company and corresponding management departments, and encouraged everyone not to slack off on the road of epidemic prevention, and to respond flexibly, calmly and systematically in accordance with the development of the situation.

Executive Director of CAM, Mr. Leung Henry Yee Hang pointed out that during this period, the management awareness of the site staff was also enhanced to prevent problems from affecting the normal operation of the airport. He suggested that the introduction of scientific and technological equipment for environmental epidemic prevention management could also be beneficial to the management.

At last, Chairman of the Executive Committee Dr. Deng Jun suggested that emergency plans should be set up and emergency drill should be carried out for different situations to ensure the normal operation of the airport. “Pool the wisdom and efforts of everyone, union is strength.” We should improve our epidemic prevention ability, do our utmost to protect MIA and Macau.