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Second Filipina domestic worker found infected with Covid-19

Posted on 27 February 2020 No comments

By The SUN

The FDW is being treated at Ruttonjee Hospital in Wanchai

A second Filipina foreign domestic worker has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the Consulate.

A statement issued by the Consulate today, Feb. 27, said: "The Hong Kong Health Department officially informed the Consulate General this morning that a 29 year old Filipina has tested positive for COVID-19. The Consulate immediately called and had a brief conversation with the patient to ascertain her condition. She is in good spirits and said she no longer has fever. She added that she is well taken care of but hospital visits are not allowed given that she is in isolation. She requested for some personal items which the Consulate will immediately bring to her today. She also asked that we keep her identity secret."

The Filipina was among six new cases reported by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Hong Kong Health Department yesterday, which brought Hong Kong's total to 91.

Three other FDWs, both asymptomatic, have been put under quarantine after their employers were found infected, but their nationalities were not disclosed.

The Consulate said in its statement that only one Filipino remains under quarantine, and that she is healthy and asymptomatic and will be released tomorrow, Feb. 28.

The first Filipino Covid-19 patient is also expected to be released within this week, provided she continues to test negative in her test.

"The Consulate will continue to closely monitor the condition of all our nationals and render all necessary assistance to the them," said the statement.

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The new Filipina Covid-19 patient (known as the 90^th case) worked for the 60-year-old member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club who was confirmed as having the virus a day earlier (85^th case).

The domestic worker lives with the employer at block 4, Swiss Towers at 113 Tai Hang Road, Tai Hang. She did not travel during the incubation period.

She developed fever on Feb 16 and consulted the same private doctor on Feb 20 and 24. After her employer tested positive the helper was taken to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wanchai where tests showed she was also infected. She is now in a stable condition.

Her employer’s husband and son, as well as another domestic helper, are all asymptomatic and have been put under quarantine.

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The day’s cases also included two passengers from the Princess Diamond, who were airlifted from the cruise ship on a chartered flight arranged by the Hong Kong government on Feb 23.

They are a 21-year-old woman (87^th case) and her 16-year-old brother (88^th case), the youngest among all patients in Hong Kong. They joined the cruise from Jan 25 until Feb 22, and did not show any symptoms initially.

But their samples tested positive for the virus during initial testing so they were transferred from the Chun Yeung Estate Quarantine Camp to Queen Mary Hospital. Further tests on Feb 26 yielded positive results.

The siblings’ parents and maternal grandfather were confirmed to have the virus in Japan and have remained there for treatment. Their younger sister has no symptoms and remains in quarantine.

The two siblings were airlifted from the stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship anchored off Yokohama

The three other cases are linked to the Buddhist temple located in Maylun Apartments in North Point.

One of the patients is a 49-year-old woman (86^th case) who had visited the temple, and lives with her husband and son in Block B, Healthy Gardens in North Point. Both are asymptomatic but have been put under quarantine.

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The woman started having cough and sore throat on Feb 18 and asked CHP’s help in being taken to the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on Feb. 22 where she was admitted. Her samples tested positive for the virus.

Another patient is an 80-year-old male (89^th) who is the husband of the 74^th case confirmed on Feb 23. He lives with his wife, daughter, granddaughter and domestic helper in Maylun Apartments and had visited the temple in the same building.

The man developed fever and cough on Feb 25 and was taken to PYNEH where he tested positive for the virus. He is now in stable condition. His daughter who also has symptoms has been admitted to PYNEH. His granddaughter and domestic helper are both asymptomatic and have been put under quarantine.

The last case is a 26-year-old male (91st case) whose mother also attended the temple, and was confirmed to have the virus on Feb 24 (76th case). The family lives in Phase 1 of Redhill Peninsula in Tai Tam.

The man developed a fever and cough on Feb 20 and sought treatment at the Hong Kong Sanitorium and Hospital on Feb. 21. On Feb 24 he went to Ruttonjee Hospital and his respiratory sample tested positive.

His father and brother and a domestic helper who lives with them are all asymptomatic and have been put under quarantine.

The recent cluster of cases were traced to the Buddhist temple in Maylun Apartments in North Point

The CHP said further investigations and contact tracing of the confirmed cases are ongoing. All close contacts will be quarantined, while medical surveillance will be made on other contacts.

A CHP spokesman warned against joining large gatherings that may include having meals together to avoid the cluster spread of the virus.

“Members of the public are urged to go out less and reduce social activities such as meals gatherings or other gatherings, and maintain appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible,” the spokesman said.

Enquiries and requests for help may be coursed through the CHP’s hotline, 2125 1122, from 8am to midnight, daily. For the latest updates on Covid-19 infection, check this website: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html.

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EOC asked to investigate discrimination linked to coronavirus outbreak

Posted on 26 February 2020 No comments

By The SUN

Priscilla Leung and ex-OEC officer Chok Kin ming announce plan to file discrimination case with EOC (RTHK photo)

A pro-Beijing lawmaker has announced that she will ask the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) to look into cases of alleged discrimination against people linked to the coronavirus outbreak.

Priscilla Leung, from the Business and Professionals Alliance, said today, Feb. 25, that she has received complaints from people who have faced abuse, either directly or online, because they have been linked to the spread of Covid-19. These include a man under home quarantine and some police officers and their families.

She also singled out people who had joined protests against plans to set up quarantine sites in their neighborhood, saying they might have breached anti-discrimination laws.

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The Mission for Migrant Workers, on the other hand, has also issued a statement calling on the government to ensure foreign domestic workers are not “discriminated, isolated and excluded in the fight against the new virus.”

The Mission’s call reflects complaints made by several Filipino domestic workers online about how their employers have stopped them from going out on their rest day, as if they are likely to bring the virus into their homes.

Migrant groups have urged the government to include them in the effort to fight the spread of Covid-19

Some FDWs who insisted on taking their day off have complained about being sprayed thoroughly with antiseptic on their return home, and in at least one case, being told to throw away the clothes she had worn.

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Leung called for tolerance among the public, and said her group will choose a number of cases involving discriminatory acts that they will ask the OEC to act on.

"The whole purpose, first of all, is to do public education by following up the necessary cases which we consider to be more serious. We'll take up seven to eight cases. We may not target the public, because I think many of the public may not be aware of the law," Leung said.

"We want to take action over some of the special cases which obviously have a high chance of having breached the Disability Discrimination Ordinance."

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Several protests have been staged across Hong Kong over plans to build quarantine centres and special clinics for coronavirus patients, with some sites vandalized.

Last month, a building in Fanling was even set on fire by protesters opposed to a government plan to use empty flats there to quarantine people.

The EOC has called on the protesters to be more reasonable and compassionate toward those who need to be isolated.

The government agency said the hostility would only delay help for those who might be infected and undercut efforts to bring the epidemic under control.

“There is a great deal of concern and apprehension surrounding the epidemic, and that is completely understandable. However, our city is now at the critical juncture of trying to pre-empt a community-wide outbreak. If we all harbour a NIMBY (not in my backyard) mentality and object to having the facilities built in our neighbourhoods, the epidemic will likely spiral out of control, and eventually the whole society and all of us will have to suffer the consequences,” said EOC chairperson Ricky Chu Man-kin.

“The EOC is especially concerned about the potential stigma that might be inflicted on users of the facilities and other persons affected by the virus amid the opposition. At its worst, it can deter infected persons from disclosing their condition, receiving quarantine inspection or simply visiting a doctor,” he added.

Chu, however, urged the government to step up efforts to communicate the purpose and operations of the said facilities, saying the resistance could just be the result of a misunderstanding and misapprehension.

This building being disinfected by health workers could be a target for discrimination

The EOC has also called on business establishments to stop turning away customers from mainland China and putting up notices saying they are not welcome.

“The EOC appeals to the public to refrain from derogatory, insulting or vilifying language and any discriminatory acts against members of a particular race or ethnic group,” said the statement.

Under the Race Discrimination Ordinance (RDO), it is unlawful for any person or organisation to treat someone less favorably on the ground of race, such as by refusing to provide goods, services or facilities.

In addition, the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO) outlaws discrimination, harassment and vilification based on disability, including being infected with a virus that could cause disease.

Under the anti-discrimination ordinances, the EOC has the power to investigate complaints, including interviewing the parties concerned so the situation could be corrected, and the underlying motives for the discriminatory practice weeded out.

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Polo to have a new contract submission system by May, says new Labatt

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By Vir B. Lumicao

New Labatt Mel Dizon expects the new system to be in place by May

A new system for submitting contracts by employment agencies to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office should be ready in three months, says newly posted Labor Attache Mel Dizon.

The new system is reportedly being developed by an IT team within the Department of Labor and Employment, and is expected to be installed at Polo by the end of May.

Since Feb 2, Hong Kong agencies have been submitting employment contracts manually to Polo for processing after the old system provided by EmployEasy was discontinued 13 years since it was put in place.

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The new system is one of a few administrative changes that Labatt Dizon said he is going to implement to improve the delivery of services by Polo.

He said he discussed these changes in a meeting with staff at Polo and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration on his first day in office last Sunday, Feb 23.

He said when he left Manila on Feb 21, the development of the system had already started. The system will be the property of Dole and will eliminate third parties to avoid issues on data privacy.

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It will be used only in Polo Hong Kong because of the big volume of contracts being processed at post.

“It is our own system na, Dole system, kaya nga iyon ay dini-develop. Ang usapan namin sa Manila kasi, mai-install in three months’ time. So, in the meantime, kailangang mag-manual kami,” Labatt Dizon said.

A queue number system is being planned to avoid overcrowding near the service counters

Despite expectations that the shift back to manual processing would slow down the process, Labatt Dizon said that so far, no complaint about delays has been received.

He said he told his staff the document processing time should not exceed 72 hours on the Polo side. That does not include authentication, which is done by the Consulate.

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Evaluating staff will be given a checklist against which to check whether the documents submitted are complete or their contents are compliant with Polo requirements, he said.

“Basta anuman ang maging problema, ihahanap namin ng solusyon, Hindi namin iyan tutulugan hanggang hindi kami nakakahanap ng solusyon,” he said.

While the manual processing is still in place, Labatt Dizon said he might recruit up to four emergency local hires to beef up the Polo staff. He is now studying the salary range for the temporary staff to see if the budget that he is seeking from DOLE will be enough.

Another change he plans to introduce is a queue number system under which people with transactions will get a ticket as they enter the Polo public hall, instead of lining up long before the gate opens to secure a seat in front of the counters.

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HK schools to remain closed until Apr 20; parents express concern

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By The SUN

HK's 85th case is a 60-year-old member of the HK Jockey Club (HKJC photo)

Hong Kong has announced that schools will remain closed until after the Easter holiday, as five more confirmed cases of coronavirus or Covid-19 infection were reported today, Feb. 25, bringing the total number to 85.

The latest confirmed case was a 60-year-old member of the exclusive Hong Kong Jockey Club, who was seen by five private doctors before testing positive.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said that classes at all kindergartens and primary and secondary schools would be suspended until April 20 at the earliest. The earlier plan was to reopen schools from Mar 16.

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But he said written tests for university entrance exams (DSE) which some 50,000 students are expected to take, will go ahead as planned from March 27.

A students' group has opposed the decision, citing a poll it conducted among 11,000 students that showed an overwhelming majority wanted the exam postponed by at least a month because of fear of contamination. A third also cited their school’s lack of preparation.

The Secondary School Students Strike Platform wants the DSE exams suspended for a month

Parents have expressed mixed reactions to the extension of the class suspension. While many worry that their kids could catch the virus in a classroom setting, others think the government is overreacting, citing the low infection rate among children.

“As we are finding out more and more about the disease, we are finding out how few children are infected…Yes, we must be careful and take precautions, but we shouldn’t overreact either, and jeopardize children’s education and well-being,” said a concerned Filipino mother in an online chat group.

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“Decisions have to be based on calculated risks and tradeoffs, and not purely out of fear or political aversion to being blamed. Singapore has not suspended a single day of school but just canceled large school gatherings. I don’t think they care less about their children.”

Other parents say the online teaching system is taking a toll on them and their children.

“My husband and I work fulltime and my son gets homework everyday from five or more different teachers. It’s one thing to do assignments with them, it’s another thing to first teach them the concepts, and then do the assignments. I’m sorry but not everyone can teach- it’s a skill,” said another Filipina mother married to a French national.

“We get to teach our son when we get home in the evenings – us tired from work and our son also by that time already sleepy. This results to a stressful teaching and learning environment and strains our relationship so it defeats the whole purpose of them learning at home.”

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Yeung said that when classes do resume, they will do so in phases. But he said that since schools had been holding online classes, summer holidays would in principle not be shortened, but individual schools could arrange for some students to make up classes if needed.

Four more infections were confirmed today, with the latest being a 60-year-old member of the Jockey Club who lives in Tai Hang. She was seen by a private doctor five times before she was taken to the private Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital in Happy Valley.

After she tested positive for the virus, the woman was taken to Queen Mary Hospital in Pokfulam where she is now in isolation.

Parts of the Happy Valley Clubhouse which she had visited during the incubation period, including the food plaza, gym, swimming pool and changing rooms, have been closed, with employees working on those days put on self-isolation for two weeks.

Three other infections were confirmed earlier – a 33-year-old employee of the MTR and a mother and son linked to a Buddhist hall in North Point where there have been several infections.

The MTR employee is the son of the city’s 72nd case, a 62-year-old man. He worked at Mong Kok East station as an attendant, and had been absent from work since February 21. He is being treated at United Christian Hospital.

The other two, the 83rd and 84th cases, are a 55-year-old woman who had visited the Fook Wai Ching She worship hall in North Point and her son, 24. Both have been admitted to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai.

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