GGRAsia – Concern of the Macao Game Workers' Group regarding rubella cases

A group of activists from the Macau gaming sector said it was approaching Tuesday the city's labor affairs office to "reflect its concerns" regarding case of rubella infection reported this month to the staff of the City of Dreams casino on Cotai and the StarWorld hotel on the Macau Peninsula.

Cloee Chao (event photo), head of the New Macau Gaming Staff Association, told GGRAsia that the incidents had worried not only the workers at these sites but also the staff of other local casinos.

She also expressed her concern about the workplace culture in the Macau gaming sector which has caused staff to suffer from a minor illness and which could lead to the spread of the disease.

People with rubella virus – a disease also known as German measles – usually have symptoms such as a rash, fever and swollen lymph nodes, according to the World Health Organization. health (WHO). Complications related to the disease include the risk of miscarriage or fetal abnormality in women who contract it early in pregnancy. According to the WHO, rubella can be transmitted by droplets in the air when infected people sneeze or cough.

Ms. Chao told us, referring specifically to the workers on the sites with reported cases: "They have not seen a lot of messages or reinforced advice from properties on how to take precautionary measures" against rubella.

According to information provided by Ms. Chao and others, internal memos were sent to the staff of the two gaming sites declared to be infected – sites managed respectively by Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd and Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd – calling employees to be vigilant with regard to the symptoms of rubella. and to seek immediate medical help in case of concern.

Health Office Branch

Lam Chong, director of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control of the Macau Health Bureau, acknowledged at a briefing last week that 25 percent of "residents of Macau" may not be immune to the disease. rubella. Two ways of immunity are either an earlier infection or a vaccination. Macau set up a rubella vaccination program in the 1990s, Lam said.

In the first 14 days of this month, a total of 12 people – believed to be City of Dreams workers on Cotai or StarWorld Hotel on the Macau Peninsula – have been confirmed to have rubella, the office said. health. Macau recorded a total of 18 rubella cases throughout the city during the first 14 days of April, compared with just one such case in the first quarter of this year.

The health office said Sunday in a statement to the press that it had "asked" local employers of all people with rubella to "strengthen disinfection" at the workplace and "make the arrangements necessary "for any pregnant staff member having" no immunity "against the rubella virus – that is to say that it is thought not to have been vaccinated or without having been exposed previously to the disease.

Ms. Chao explained that her group's purpose in lobbying the Bureau of Labor Affairs was to speak on behalf of the casino workers, especially the game room staff, who needed to be in contact with a large number of people. people every shift. The task force stated that one of the problems badociated with controlling the disease was that staff might be reluctant to request leave even if it had some of the symptoms badociated with rubella.

"Gaming employees do not easily ask for sick leave if they suffer from less serious illnesses such as colds or fever. We are concerned that some staff have already contracted an illness like this. [rubella] without knowing … and they just came to their place of work as usual. This could lead to the spread of the virus …, "Ms. Chao told GGRAsia.