The pandemic situation has become exceptionally severe with the Omicron variant ravaging globally. The Chief Executive of Macau SAR and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM) attach great importance to the epidemic prevention and control works of Macau International Airport (MIA). CAM Epidemic Prevention Response Committee has convened the 13th Epidemic Prevention Response Committee (Expanded) Meeting on 7th January 2022 in the morning, which initially scheduled at afternoon of the day, allowing Directors of all Departments and General Managers of subsidiaries to follow-up issues and measures planning in a timely manner and deeply study and discuss the difficulties and obstacles encountered in recent prevention works, maintaining a cautious and serious attitude to implement various preventive works and measures to build MIA as a strong front-line pandemic prevention barrier guarding the air gateway of Macau.

Chairman of the CAM Executive Committee Dr. Deng Jun, who presided over the meeting pointed out that current airport epidemic prevention work is facing many challenges: quoting from the Macau Daily News reported on 5th January 2022, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre (CDC) announced that with an aim of reducing the risks associated with COVID-19 for public health in Macau, in accordance with the stipulations in paragraph 2 of article 4 in Decree-Law no. 81/99/M and article 2 of Law no. 2/2004, from 00:00 on 9th January 2022 to 23:59 on 23rd January 2022, the Health Bureau prohibits civil aircrafts from carrying passengers from places outside China to Macau. This requirement shall not preclude other anti-epidemic requirements. As the air bridge of Macau SAR, it is vital that the airport must prudently and actively cooperate with Government on the implementation of prevention measures. Secondly, the CDC and Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) require the Airport Director to establish the closed-loop management system as earliest as possible. Airport entities such as airlines and ground handling services providers are strongly required to establish and implement closed-loop management while overcome all difficulties to ensure the effectiveness of prevention work with a higher level of control, and further reduce the risk of coronavirus infection. At present, CAM and its subsidiaries Airport Information Management Solutions (AIMS), SEMAC Security Company has a staff vaccination rate of 98% while the vaccination rate of 22 Subconcessionaires and Service Providers of MIA reached 94%. Employees are encouraged to receive the second or third dose of vaccination timely and jointly establish an immune barrier for the high-risk working environment of the airport and the civil aviation industry to fight against the epidemic. It is also recommended that CAM Epidemic Prevention Response Committee should commend and reward individuals, departments and teams with outstanding performance in epidemic prevention during year 2020 and 2021. The relevant procedures will be coordinated by Finance and Administration Department (FAD). After the selection of each department, FAD will report the candidate list and selection result to the Executive Committee to make the final decision for granting commendation and reward as recognition and encouragement for their works.

Director of the Airport Operations Department (AOD), Mr. Gary Geng reported the frontline epidemic prevention work of the airport. According to the latest regulations of the Health Bureau, the international flight handling plan before 9th January 2022 has been immediately submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority, and the relevant epidemic prevention regulations have been notified to the airlines and various operating units in the airport, emphasizing airlines and operators must follow the guidelines on disinfection of all aircrafts and cargo, operators are required to actively cooperate in the establishment of a closed-loop management system, and formulate a series of handling plans for staff accommodation and vaccination.  In response to the latest epidemic prevention regulations, AOD continue to discuss with the Civil Aviation Authority on the subsequent handling of medium and high-risk flights. Director of Marketing Department (MKD), Mr. Eric Fong stated that he will keep close contact with airlines, and have immediately notified them regarding the latest regulations of the Health Bureau, and tried his best to provide airlines with information and assistance. Airport inspection teams have also made inspections at terminals building and cargo terminals, and no serious violations of epidemic prevention regulations have been found. Deputy Director of Logistics and General Aviation Department (LGD), Mr. Jim Leung reported that Menzies Macau Airport Services Company Limited (Menzies) has reached a 90% vaccination rate for frontline personnel at the airport cargo terminal, and also arranges personnel to inspect the cargo terminal to check whether the ground service personnel have disinfected luggage and cargo in accordance with the guidelines and proper use of protective equipment, will continue to discuss with AOD and Menzies to develop a closed-loop management plan and implement it. Managing Director of SEMAC Security Company, Mr. Paul Leong said that the vaccination rate of front-line security staff also reached 98%. Considering the risk of infection and high mobility of front-line security staff, they are maintaining a three-day-1-check policy. There are designated personnel to keep adequate storage of protective equipment. Staffs are also required to report their travel plans before the Spring Festival and holidays.

Director of Finance and Administration Department (FAD), Ms. Grace Cheang reported that the vaccination rate of CAM staff is nearly 99% at presently. A number of epidemic prevention measures have been taken in CAM office building, the travel history of our staff from all departments will continue to be collected for future emergency use. Director of Information Technology Development Department (ITD) and General Manager of Airport Information Management Solutions (AIMS), Ms. Sharon Wang said that the staff would be updated with epidemic prevention guidelines from time to time. Protective clothing would also be stocked for frontline engineering support service personnel, and staff would be encouraged to take enhanced vaccinations to enhance the protective barrier. Director of Infrastructure Development Department (IFD) Mr. Sandro Kou reported that nearly 90% of the construction workers have completed the vaccination at the moment. The contractor must check the health code and departure status of the construction personnel, also need to properly formulate the allocation of construction manpower and accommodation. Any updated measure on inbound regulations is implemented, contractor must still ensure that the infrastructure construction is not delayed or affected. Director of Corporate Communication & Policy Research Office (CPO) Ms. Vicki Mou keeps on going attention to the trends of the epidemic in different cities. Provide comprehensive and accurate information to Executive Committee and Directors of relevant departments, while releasing good news to the public in a timely and appropriate manner in order to keep all channels for internal and external information transmission smoothly. Director of Executive Committee Office (ECO) Ms. Katy Lo continues to collect epidemic prevention information from various departments and submit to the members of the Executive Committee for review. Immediate report to the management for ease response measures if in emergency.

Executive Director of CAM Mr. Chu Tan Neng hoped that all airport entities should actively cooperate with the establishment of closed-loop epidemic prevention management and the implementation of relevant measures. Epidemic prevention work should not be weakened. Entities should report emergencies incidents and find hidden dangers, strictly abide by their post responsibilities, and build advantages in epidemic prevention.

Executive Director of CAM Mr. Kan Cheok Kuan said that staff were encouraged to take booster shots as needed, and he also reminded heads of departments to monitor closely the vaccination and timeliness of their colleagues for reference in implementing the booster shots incentive scheme, and to make assessment and inform their superiors of the relevant treatment plan when necessary.    

Executive Director of CAM Mr. Lei Si Tai pointed out that the epidemic prevention work at the airport is really important. He thanked all the airport staff for their support and cooperation since the outbreak, and no major epidemic prevention accident had occurred. He suggested that all frontline staff are advised to complete vaccination as soon as possible to establish a strong immune barrier in view of the outbreak of COVID-19 at nearby airports.

Executive Director of CAM Mr. Leung Henry Yee Hang said that the latest regulations of the Macau Health Bureau will be implemented from 9th of this month and will be maintained for 14 days. During this period, the airport should be properly prepared for the strengthening of epidemic prevention and control measures. He also pointed out that Macau’s epidemic prevention measures are proofed effective, and MIA should maintain a port barrier for Macau.

A number of matters was discussed to brainstorm together as a team. At the end of the meeting, Chairman Deng recognized the high degree of cooperation of AOD at the frontline. He emphasized once again, that establishing the closed-loop management system implementation is imperative, relevant departments are required to work closely, negotiate and formulate strict and meticulous plans and control measures with ground handling service providers, fuel suppliers, catering service providers, etc. Security check and epidemic prevention work must be rigorous and obediently towards to the same goal, and all Department Directors are required to do their duty to ensure that epidemic prevention measures are implemented on every employee, be ready to guard the airport and Macau.