CG reports, all Filipinos in HK free of Covid-19

By Daisy C L Mandap

Congen Tejada happily shares the news with Filcom leaders at the consultation meeting 

Consul General Raly Tejada has said all eight Filipinos who were put under quarantine in Hong Kong have been released after showing no symptoms of Covid-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.

He also told Filipino community leaders who gathered for a consultation meeting at the Consulate on Sunday, Mar. 1, that the remaining Filipina Covid-19 patient should be released anytime, for repeatedly turning out a negative test result for the virus.

PRESS FOR MORE INFO

The second Filipina was diagnosed as having Covid-19 on Feb 29, after being admitted to the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital with a fever. The 29-year old domestic worker was taken to hospital the day before, after her 60-year-old employer was found infected.

Congen Tejada said the patient is in good health. “In fact, wala nang nararamdaman,” he said.

The first Filipina to be diagnosed with the disease was set to be released from the same hospital a few days earlier, but doctors reportedly wanted to do more tests to make sure she has fully recovered.

Congen Tejada addresses the community leaders.

“The first patient is supposed to be out already, but the Hong Kong government is being very cautious,” Congen Tejada said.

The 32-year-old domestic worker was asymptomatic when admitted to the hospital on Feb. 18 after her 67-year-old employer tested positive for the disease. After an initial positive result, all subsequent tests on the Filipina turned out negative for the virus.

“We are in constant touch with them,” said Congen. However, since the patients are kept in isolation, the communication by the Consulate with them has only been through telephone calls.

PRESS HERE TO TRACK YOUR BOX NOW!

From what they have been told, Congen Tejada said both patients are being looked after well, and are given everything that they need. “So we just tell them to follow what they are told.”

As for the quarantined Filipinos, he said all have been released after the 14-day mandatory period for observation, “so zero na ang naka quarantine.”

He thanked the Filipino community for their help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus, and also for coming together to appeal to the Philippine government to lift the travel ban on Hong Kong.

Press here to get the App

Hong Kong, meanwhile, has had its first day in more than a week when no new case was reported, keeping the overall tally steady at 98.

But a 68-year-old former passenger on the virus-stricken cruise ship, Princess Diamond, anchored off Japan, is undergoing further testing after returning a “weak positive” result in an initial test.

Elsewhere, specifically in South Korea, Italy and Iran, the picture is getting more grim.

Tunghayan ang kwentong Dream Love.

There are now more than 4,000 cases in South Korea, mostly in the epicenter, Daegu, after 500 more cases were reported Sunday. Four more people have died, bringing the total death toll to 22.

In Italy, the number of cases has risen to 1,128, with 29 deaths.

And in Iran, a member of a presidential advisory council has died, becoming the country’s first top official to succumb to the disease.

Expediency Council member Mohammad Mirmohammadi is one of 66 people to have died, out of 1,501 confirmed cases in the country. Iran has the highest death toll outside of China.

Among those taken ill is Vice-President Masoumeh Ebtekar, along with the head of an inter-agency task force on the disease.

The number of Covid-19 cases worldwide is now nearing 90,000, with over 3,000 deaths, after just over two months since the virus was first detected in the Chinese central city of Wuhan.

China still has the overwhelming number of cases, at about 80,000, and 2,900 deaths.

But the virus is fast spreading, and has emerged in nearly all continents, except Antarctica.

Among the countries that have expressed alarm recently over the contagion is the United States, which has recorded two deaths in as many days.

---

I-try mo ito, Kabayan: Kung interesado kang ma-contact ang mga advertiser namin dito, pindutin lang ang kanilang ad, at lalabas ang auto-dialer o kanilang website. Pindutin ulit and auto diaoer upang tumawag. Hindi na kailangang pindutin isa-isa ang mga numero.

Call us now!

Call now!

Call now!

Call us!

Press ad to call

 

CALL US!

HK government services gradually return to normal

Joshua Law, secretary of civil service (second left) in a visit to thr Official Languages Division

The Hong kong government is gradually resuming its public services, although taking care to reduce the chances of Covid 19 spreading through its offices.

Department secretaries and bureau directors today visited their respective offices to learn more about the implementation of measures to reduce social contact and control infection to protect the health of their staff and members of the public, the government said in a statement.

PRESS FOR MORE INFO

The officials learned, for instance, that flexible working hours have been implemented to reduce staff using public transport during peak hours, and a roster system was adopted to reduce the number of staff working in an office at any one time. Staggered lunch hours were also implemented.

CALL NOW!

Among the infection control measures implemented at government buildings and offices to reduce the risk of infection and the spread of the virus include enhanced cleansing of public facilities, such as lifts and escalators, checking the body temperature of persons entering government buildings and offices, providing alcohol hand sanitiser and sanitising mats, etc.

Press here to get the App

In addition, government offices also restrict the number of visitors at any one time by making use of measures such as scheduled appointments, drop boxes, quota system, etc.


“The government will stay vigilant as fighting the epidemic remains our top priority, the statement said. “Bureaus/departments will continue to implement targeted measures to reduce social contacts and measures for infection control, and gradually resume more public services to meet public expectations.”

Tunghayan ang kwentong Dream Love.

Meanwhile,  public hospitals reported to the Department of Health the admission of 55 patients (23 male and 32 female, aged four to 101) in the past 24 hours who met the reporting criteria of COVID-19. Appropriate tests have been arranged for the patients.
 
     There are 125 patients under isolation currently. So far, 36 patients with the COVID-19 infection have been discharged upon recovery.
 
     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

---

I-try mo ito, Kabayan: Kung interesado kang ma-contact ang mga advertiser namin dito, pindutin lang ang kanilang ad, at lalabas ang auto-dialer o kanilang website. Pindutin ulit and auto diaoer upang tumawag. Hindi na kailangang pindutin isa-isa ang mga numero.

Call us now!

Call now!

Call now!

Call us!

Press ad to call

 

CALL US!

OWWA admits system glitch behind e-card application failure

The OWWA system glitch gives wrong information on OFW members

An apparent flaw in the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration database that appears during OFW e-card application put the government agency on the defensive during the Consulate’s meeting with Filipino community leaders on Sunday, Mar 1.

The problem, as pointed out by Babes Leonardo of the Bicol Migrants Hong Kong Association, is that each time she tried to access the OWWA site as required when completing her e-card application, her request was unsuccessful.

PRESS FOR MORE INFO

When she tried to download OWWA’s mobile app, the system told her she was inactive yet she had paid $196 for membership when she renewed her contract nearly a year ago.

That means another visit to the OWWA with her payment receipt to for her status to be updated, she said.  

CALL NOW!

OWWA Welfare Officer Virsie Tamayao, who was asked to answer Leonardo’s query during the open forum, admitted many workers had the same problem when applying for the e-card.

Tamayao said when applying for an e-card, a worker should have her passport with one year validity, OEC with six months validity, as well as OWWA membership all updated to access the site.

Press here to get the App

“Madalas na reklamo yung OWWA membership, hindi daw siya updated,” Tamayao said. She said there had been several complaints involving OWWA’s system when workers apply for e-cards.

Tamayao said an e-card applicant can dial a number provided when registering to access the system or she can seek assistance from OWWA, which will verify her records in the agency’s database.

“Updated yung OWWA. There must be something wrong with the system,” Tamayao said. She begged for patience, saying OWWA is also trying to address the issue. – Vir B. Lumicao

---

I-try mo ito, Kabayan: Kung interesado kang ma-contact ang mga advertiser namin dito, pindutin lang ang kanilang ad, at lalabas ang auto-dialer o kanilang website. Pindutin ulit and auto diaoer upang tumawag. Hindi na kailangang pindutin isa-isa ang mga numero.

Call us now!

Call now!

Call now!

Call us!

Press ad to call

 

CALL US!

 

Demand masks from your employers, CG tells FDWs

By Vir B. Lumicao

Congen Tejada with his key officers at t the Filcom meeting 

Consul General Raly Tejada said employers have a responsibility to provide their domestic workers with face masks.

Congel Tejada said this when told during a consultation meeting with Filipino community leaders on Sunday, Mar. 1, at the Consulate, that not all employers were providing their workers with masks.

He said Filipino domestic workers should demand to be given masks, the basic protection gear against the novel coronavirus, as in their work contract the employers are responsible for their employees’ well-being and medical needs.

PRESS FOR MORE INFO

“That is legally demandable,” Congen Rally said.

Also during the consultation meeting that focused on community effort to combat the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19, Congen said the Consulate is looking for suppliers of face masks that it wants to distribute to Hong Kong-based OFWs.

He said fund for masks is available, but where to buy is the problem, says Congen.

CALL NOW!

“Talagang source ang problema, kung saan bibili,” he said in reply to a query about what happened to the 100,000 masks that he had said Manila would be sending to the PCG for distribution to Filipino workers here.  

 

CG Tejada says the Consulate wants to give face masks to FDWs but it doesn't know where to get them

He said even Hong Kong itself, which is wealthy, is stumped when it comes to sourcing the masks that it needs in the fight to halt the spread of the virus.

“Now there is a fund for it and the government is asking where we can buy it, where we can source. Talagang acute ang problem sa shortage ng masks right now,” Congen Tejada said.

“We may have to buy from here kung iyon ang kinakailangan,” he said.

Press here to get the App

He said the Consulate has a limited supply of masks given by donors who have the resources to have them purchased elsewhere. Those masks would be distributed to those who need it in a fair and equitable way, he said.

He also encouraged workers who know people who have the means to donate masks to do so, and course them through the Consulate so it can distribute them to those who need them most.

While the masks being distributed by the Consulate are for all Filipinos, he said those who have enough supply should consider passing up on the offer in favor of those who don’t have easy access to them.

---

I-try mo ito, Kabayan: Kung interesado kang ma-contact ang mga advertiser namin dito, pindutin lang ang kanilang ad, at lalabas ang auto-dialer o kanilang website. Pindutin ulit and auto diaoer upang tumawag. Hindi na kailangang pindutin isa-isa ang mga numero.

Call us now!

Call now!

Call now!

Call us!

Press ad to call

 

CALL US!

HK records 14 new HIV and 2 AIDS cases among Filipinos

By The SUN

Fourteen new HIV and 2 new Aids cases among Filipinos in Hong Kong were recorded last year, the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health said on Wednesday, Feb 26.

“Similar to the general epidemiology in Hong Kong, the major cause of HIV infection among Filipinos is sexual transmission,” a CHP spokesman said.

The Health Department has no record of the occupation of the reported cases, he said.

The 14 Filipinos were among 565 cases of human immunodeficiency virus infection that were reported to the CHP last year, compared with 624 in 2018, the spokesman said.

PRESS FOR MORE INFO

Six of the new cases last year were male, double from the count in 2018, while 8 were female, down from 9 in the previous year, the spokesman said.

There were two male and female Filipino Aids cases last year, compared with 3 females recorded in 2018.  

The gender distribution of the new Filipino HIV and Aids cases:
 

	HIV		AIDS
	Male	Female	Male	Female
2018	3	9	0	3
2019	6	8	1	1

Reviewing the latest situation in Hong Kong a day earlier, the spokesman said, “Sexual transmission remained the major mode of HIV transmission.”

CALL NOW!

He urged members of the public to use condoms consistently and properly so as to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV.

“Despite a decrease in the number of reports of HIV infection in recent years when compared to the peak in 2015, a concentrated epidemic among vulnerable groups, such as young men who have sex with men, warrants our sustained attention,” he said.

Press here to get the App

Of the 565 HIV cases reported last year, 479 males and 86 females, 331 acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact, 128 via heterosexual contact, five via drug injection and two via perinatal infection.

The routes of transmission of the remaining 99 cases have yet to be determined due to incomplete information upon notification, the spokesman said.

---

I-try mo ito, Kabayan: Kung interesado kang ma-contact ang mga advertiser namin dito, pindutin lang ang kanilang ad, at lalabas ang auto-dialer o kanilang website. Pindutin ulit and auto diaoer upang tumawag. Hindi na kailangang pindutin isa-isa ang mga numero.

Call us now!

Call now!

Call now!

Call us!

Press ad to call

CALL US!