The change takes place as of 3 March, having been implemented in July 2020. Last summer, Macau’s Gaming and Inspection Coordination Bureau (DICJ) declared that all visitors to casinos were required to submit negative test results and green health codes.

But the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center has now said that negative test results are no longer necessary due to mainland China now reaching 24 days without any new local transmission of Covid. Visitors from mainland China are, however, still required to submit a negative test result before entering Macau.

Casinos meanwhile will retain safety measures such as mandatory face masks, the green health code system, barriers between players on the gaming floor, as well as social distancing.

The DICJ earlier this month reported a 9% month-on-month decline in revenue for February, but the MOP7.31bn ($914.5m) figure was, however, a 136% year-on-year increase from MOP3.1bn, with casinos closed in February 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic.

While Macau has a travel bubble with mainland China, citizens were encouraged to avoid travel to the region during the recent Chinese New Year holiday, in a bid to prevent the spread of Covid.