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Woman from Wuhan is Phl’s first confirmed coronavirus case

Posted on 31 January 2020 No comments

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III

The Philippines confirmed its first case of Wuhan coronavirus infection on Jan. 30.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a news briefing that it was a 38-year-old woman from China who flew in from Wuhan via Hong Kong on Jan 21. She is currently in a government hospital where she was admitted on Jan 25 but is no longer showing symptoms.

The patient is among the 29 people monitored by the Department of Health for suspected infection.

DOH Epidemiology Director Ferchito Avelino said the authorities are now the establishments the woman had been to, and the employees she had contacted.

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Specimen taken from the woman was among six samples sent earlier this week to Australia for testing at the Victoria Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory. The rest tested negative.

Duque advised Filipinos to remain calm and vigilant, and said the DOH was on top of the situation.

He broke the news about the infection amid mounting pressure on the government to stop the entry of people from China to avert the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte has dismissed the calls, saying it would be unfair to single out Chinese tourists for a ban.

But he said he was open to evacuating an estimated 300 Filipinos trapped in the central Chinese of Hubei, whose capital, Wuhan, has been identified as ground zero for the contamination.

The first Wuhan coronavirus case was reported to the World Health Organization in late December last year. In a span of less than a month, it has spread to all regions in China, and to many other parts of the world.

The number of cases of the pneumonia-like illness in China has risen to more than 8,000, with a death toll f 171 as of this writing.

The Chinese National Health Commission said in its daily report that 1,370 patients remained in critical condition and 12,167 people were suspected of being infected by the virus by midnight of Jan 29.

A total of 124 people had recovered and been discharged from hospital.

A total of 88,693 close contacts had been traced, among whom 2,364 were discharged from medical observation on Wednesday. At least 81,947 others are still being monitored.

In Hong Kong, the 11^th and 12^th confirmed cases were reported today, Jan. 31.

The 11^th case was the employer of the Filipina domestic worker who was quarantined on Jan 24 after the employer’s parents who were visiting from Wuhan, tested positive for the coronavirus The daughter had not been to China recently.

The 12^th confirmed patient is a 75-year-old man living in Cheung Hong Estate in Tsing Yi who had been to Guangdong from Dec 30 to Jan 7. He was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital two days after developing a cough and shortness of breath on Jan. 22. He has been isolated and is now in stable condition. - With reports from Rappler and Xinhua

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DH agrees to be dismissed rather than travel to China with employer

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By Vir B. Lumicao

The border crossing at Lowu in Shenzhen used by many OFWs who go to China

A Filipina domestic worker has lost her job for refusing to go with her employer to China amid the scare sparked by an outbreak of the deadly novel coronavirus in the mainland.

Welfare officer Marivic Clarin of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said the termination of the worker’s contract was a mutual agreement between the parties, but the helper would be duly compensated.

It happened after both the Consulate and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office issued advisories on Jan 28, reminding employers not to bring their domestic workers across the border amid the health scare.

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The worker, who was not identified, went to Clarin on Jan 30 to seek help in computing money due from her employer for her premature dismissal. She was in the third year of her work contract.

Clarin said the employer threatened to fire the Filipina the previous day if she didn’t agree to go to the mainland, but the maid cited the Polo and Consulate advisories.

The Polo advisory reminded employment agencies that it was their duty to explain to employers that the practice was illegal.

As a result, the employer backed down and both parties talked amicably about ending the helper’s employment.

“It’s a mutual agreement naman nila. Di naman sad ang worker,” Clarin said.

The employer wanted to pay the worker only until Feb 11 in lieu of one month’s notice. But when they got to OWWA, Clarin advised the helper to demand payment until the end of February and the employer agreed.

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Clarin also advised the worker to inform the Immigration Department that her dismissal was due to her refusal to go to China so she would be allowed to sign up with a new employer without having to leave Hong Kong.

The OWWA officer said she had received several messages or calls from workers who are concerned that they might catch the Wuhan novel coronavirus because they are still in China and not being allowed by their employers to return to Hong Kong.

She said that given the situation in China now, it might be best for the workers to stay put in their employer’s house to avoid exposing themselves to the contagion.

“Best na nandun lang sila, kung nasa loob lang. Baka mamaya, mas delikado pa kung pauwiin pa sila nang sabay-sabay,” Clarin said.

Another worry by the helpers was whether they or their employers would be sanctioned by the Consulate or POLO for going to China.

“Maraming natakot kasi nasa China pa sila,” Clarin said. “Concerned yung mga nandoon kasi iyon daw ang nakalagay sa advisory.”

What the Polo advisory signed by Officer-in-Charge Antonio Villafuerte said, in fact, was that employment agencies could be subject to suspension or administrative sanctions if they failed to help workers return to Hong Kong as the need arises.

There was no mention of sanctions on the worker the employer, although Polo keeps a blacklist of employers who violate laws or commit abuse against a helper.

Another OFW who called Clarin had a different fear, that she would be quarantined when she goes home for a vacation.

This followed an announcement by Philippine officials that Filipinos who are in Wuhan would be evacuated and placed in quarantine for 14 days as soon as they land in Manila.

“Ang sabi ko lang, ‘Mag-ingat mula ngayon para sa pag-uwi mo wala kang sintomas, fever or anything na makita pagdating doon sa airport…magdala ka ng alcohol …yung usual na paalala para makaiwas sa infection’,” Clarin said.

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HK Labour hit after urging migrant workers to stay home on their rest day

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By The SUN

HK Labour tells migrant workers to stay home to prevent spread of coronavirus

In an unprecedented move, Hong Kong’s Labour Department has appealed to foreign domestic helpers to stay home on their rest day as a precaution to the spread of the Wuhan novel coronavirus in the community.

“The government appeals to FDHs to stay home for rest on their rest day as far as possible, and to stay away from crowds on public transport or at public places. At the same time, employers must not require FDHs to work on their rest day,” said the statement.

The advisory was immediately criticized by Cynthia Tellez, manager of the Mission for Migrant Workers, who called it illegal and discriminatory.

Another community leader, Eman Villanueva of Bayan Hong Kong and Macau, was more scathing, describing the Labour Department call as “irresponsible, unfair, unjust and discriminatory.”

Tejada says it should be worker's choice

Consul General Raly Tejada on the other hand, said the Consulate understood the objective of the request, but maintained that the final decision rests with the domestic worker.

“In the event that they choose to stay at home then the employer must respect their day off and not give them tasks,” said Congen Tejada in a message to The SUN.

In two separate advisories, the Consulate advised Filipinos to avoid large gatherings and organizations to postpone public events to help reduce the risk of infection, but did not tell them to remain indoors at all times.

At the same time, it reminded employers not to bring their helpers to the mainland, in reaction to many appeals for help from Filipina domestic workers who are being forced to cross the border by their employers, despite the contagion,

Tellez calls move 'racist'

Tellez said she was surprised by the Labour Department’s statement, as it amounted to the government agency violating its own prohibition against not allowing a foreign domestic worker to take a day off.

“Kalokohan yan because it sends the wrong signal that puwede nang hindi palabasin ang isang migrant worker sa kanyang day-off,” Tellez said.

“At saka, paano naman nating malalaman kung hindi nga pinapatrabaho ang worker kung nasa loob siya ng bahay?”

She said Labour can’t even suggest that the worker be paid for staying put because that again will be in violation of its own laws.

But more importantly, Tellez said the advisory affirmed the racist notion that FDWs cause the spread of illnesses in Hong Kong, when they are the ones who are actually at risk as they do not get to choose who they should live with.

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She said this was shown by the case of the Filipina who was put under quarantine on Jan 24 after her employer’s parents who were visiting from Wuhan, tested positive for the coronavirus.

“Maling patakaran yan kasi ang Labour na dapat na nagpoprotekta sa mga migrant worker ay siya pang naglalapit sa kanila sa kapahamakan,” said Tellez.

Villanueva says it's malicious and unfair to suggest
FDWs are likely to spread the virus

Villanueva agreed that employers could take the advisory to mean that they can deprive FDWs of their weekly rest day and statutory holidays.

He was also angered by the suggestion that the novel coronavirus (nCoV) contagion could be controlled if migrant workers stayed at home even on their rest day.

“It unfairly and maliciously insinuate that FDWs’ communities are particularly prone to spreading the virus. In fact, the only incident involving an FDW is a Filipino who had a direct contact with two nCoV carriers who happen to be her employer’s relatives. This incident happened INSIDE their household, not outside,” said Villanueva.

He added that singling out FDWs and asking them “to stay at home during their rest day while other members of the household can freely leave is meaningless and is blatantly discriminatory.”

He said that instead of taking steps that violate migrant workers rights, the Hong Kong government must ensure that FDWs are give the same level of protection as everybody else in the city.

“Remind employers to provide their domestic workers with free protective materials such as face masks, vitamin C, alcohol-based sanitizing gel or spray. Ensure that their FDWs get sufficient rest and nutritious food so they wont get sick. Ensure that advisories and public information regarding 2019-nCoV are made available in different languages for the benefit of everyone including ethnic minority communities,” he said.

This was the first time that the Labour Department had made this unusual call. Even at the height of Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) which killed 299 people in Hong Kong 17 years ago, officials did not see it fit to suggest that FDWs should stay at home on their day off.

In addition to the call to stay at home, a Labour spokesman said everyone in Hong Kong should refrain from gathering so as to minimize the risk of infection.

He noted the same call was made by the consulates of the Philippines and Indonesia.

“If it is necessary for FDHs to go out, they are advised to wear a surgical mask and to avoid staying in crowded places. If an FDH or his/her employer has visited the Mainland recently, he/she should wear a surgical mask and stay home for 14 days upon return to Hong Kong as far as possible,” the spokesman continued.

An emergency alert was issued throughout the city on Jan 25, after the first two cases of coronavirus infections in Hong Kong were reported.

There are now 11 confirmed cases, while further tests and monitoring are being carried out on 600 or so suspected carriers.

In its advisory, Labour reminded employers who compel their helpers to work on a rest day is in breach of the Employment Ordinance and is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000.

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HK partially shuts border with China starting today

Posted on 30 January 2020 No comments

By The SUN

Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau gates will be kept open to cross-border travelers

The Hong Kong government has ordered a partial closure of its border with China as part of the effort to contain the spread of the deadly Wuhan coronavirus.

From today, Jan. 30, travelers to

China

will only be able to use the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau border crossings. But they cannot take the East Rail Line from Hung Hom as the station has been closed.

The West Rail Line from where high-speed trains run between Hong Kong and China has also been closed indefinitely and will be thoroughly sanitized. Nearly all confirmed cases in Hong Kong entered through this route.

Cross-border ferries that originate from China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Tuen Mun Ferry will also stop running until further notice.

The Sha Tau Kok and Man Kam To control points will be closed to private cars and passenger buses, while there will be limited trips for the shuttle coaches and ferries that go to Macau using the Lok Ma Chau and Shenzhen Bay ports, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge crossings.

In addition, the four local airlines – Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, Hong Kong Airline and Hong Kong Express – will gradually cut by half their flight schedules between Hong Kong and 24 mainland destinations.

Cathay Dragon is among 4 local airlines that will gradually cut by half their flights to the mainland

In summary, the following 6 border checkpoints will be closed indefinitely: Hung Hom, West Kowloon, Shau Tau Kok, Man Kam To, China Ferry Terminal and Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal.

Limited overland trips and ferry services to Macau will originate from Lok Ma Chau and Shenzhen Bay ports, and the HK-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge crossing.

Only these three crossings will remain open as before: Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau and Hong Kong International Airport.

All Hong Kong residents still in the mainland are urged to come back and stay at home for at least 14 days as a precaution against the spread of the virus.

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Chief Executive Carrie Lam again dismissed calls for a total sealing of the border, saying Hong Kong people made up 75% of all those who left the city up to Jan 27, so it was not meaningful to pursue that option.

“There are a large number of Hong Kong residents who are now travelling in the Mainland and overseas and they need to come back. So, I don’t think it is very meaningful to talk about a complete closure of the boundary control points,” she said.

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To further limit the entry of people from the mainland, she said the Central Government had agreed to stop issuing individual visas to Hong Kong, effectively cutting down by half the number of mainland visitors coming in. A further reduction is expected from suspending group tours from the mainland.

The government initiatives to contain the spread of the coronavirus so far include:

· Suspending classes until Feb 17, or two weeks later than was previously announced;

· Making civil servants work from home, except those providing frontline and emergency services, until Feb 2;

· Closing all courts and suspending case hearings until Feb 2;

· Closing all public parks (including HK Disneyland and Ocean Park), museums, leisure centers, swimming pools and sports facilities until further notice;

· Scrapping big events like the annual Hong Kong marathon, scheduled for Feb 5 and 6, and public celebrations of the Lunar New Year;

· Suspending all general visiting arrangements, volunteer services and clinical attachment programs at public hospitals

· Temporarily closing several government offices like the Companies Registry and Official Receivers Office, and suspending public services by the Inland Revenue and Labour Department until Feb 2.