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Filipinos keep off Central as new social distancing measure takes effect

Posted on 29 March 2020 No comments

By The SUN

Statue Square on a Sunday has never been this near-empty, except during last year's protests

The favorite haunts of Filipino migrant workers in Central were mostly quiet on Sunday, Mar 29, as a new government regulation to limit the number of people gathering in public places to no more than four, took effect.

Few Filipino workers taking their day off were seen in Statue Square, their favorite meet-up place in the financial district, obviously mindful of the new restriction which goes with a $25,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment.

The same was true on the footbridges, parks and pedestrian walkways surrounding the area, from United Centre in Admiralty, to the HSBC headquarters on Des Voex Road, City Hall and General Post Office in Edinburgh Place, and World Wide House on Connaught Road.

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Most of the workers gathered in groups of four or less, in line with the restrictions announced on Friday, Mar 27, and will last for the next 14 days. But a few did not seem to pay heed as they played cards, or haggled with itinerant vendors still plying their wares.

A number of police officers roamed the workers’ favorite haunts, but appeared to be more intent on giving reminders instead of warnings.

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Consul Paul Saret, head of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, said he expected the authorities to just issue a warning and not arrest anyone for violating the four to a group restriction.

“Siguro naman ho hindi sila ganyan ka istrikto sa unang araw,” he said.

Consul Saret says police won't be so harsh as to arrest anyone of the day the regulation took effect

A police spokesman confirmed this. “In the early days of the implementation of the regulations, the police will remind the public to cooperate with the requirements of the regulations through verbal explanations, exhortations or warnings.

“To prevent the spread of the epidemic, public awareness cooperation is more effective than law enforcement. The police appeal to the public to comply with the new regulations. They must cooperate immediately when facing police enforcement actions and remind everyone around them to cooperate.”

The officer said that when public health is threatened, everyone has to work together to fight the epidemic.

For migrant domestic workers, the message was given more emphasis when the Labour Department issued advisories on two consecutive days, advising them to stay indoors, or if they do go out, to make sure there were no more than four of them in a group.

Dolores Balladares, chairperson of United Filipinos (Migrante) in Hong Kong, said there were even fewer people in the morning in Central, when her group went around to inform fellow workers about the new regulation.

Balladares displays her group's poster reminding migrants about the prohibition against big gatherings

“Marami ang hindi nag day-off ngayon, kasi kinausap ng kanilang mga amo,” she said. “Nasa sa kanila na yun kung papayag sila, pero sinabihan pa rin namin sila na karapatan nila ang mag day off kung gusto nila, o kailangan.”

Balladares said one of her members had asked if she could insist on going out because she needed to send money home, but the veteran leader said she advised her to just ask for another day when she could do this.

Sundan ang Kuwentong Dram Love

Over at St. John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, the surrounding area which normally teems with hawkers and people offering services like manicure and haircut, was unusually quiet and deserted.

Esther Bangcawayan, a case officer of the Mission for Migrant Workers which has its office in one of the buildings in the area, noted that many workers appeared to have heeded the call to stay at home on their rest day.

“Wala namang problema sa atin iyon, basta huwag lang pagtrabahuhin ng mga amo nila. Para sa kabutihan din naman nila,” said Bangcawayan.

Chater Garden is eerily empty

The few workers who did venture out passed their time sitting on concrete benches making calls, or tinkering with their phones.

“Halos walang tao ngayon, natakot sila sa balitang magmumulta ng $25,000,” said Aling Estrella, who said she had hung out on a covered promenade in Chater Garden for years. “Dati-rati marami sila rito, mga taga-Nueva Vizcaya, kumakain at nagkukuwentuhan habang nagpapahinga,” she said.

But she conceded it was a good way of avoiding the infection.

At Tamar Park in Admiralty, Jena Carrera and a friend sat on the grass enjoying their lunch.

Jena said she was lucky to have employers who still allowed to take her day off, but only cautioned her to stay away from crowds.

Jen and friend had Tamar Park all to themselves

Only World-Wide Plaza, known as the Filipino business hub in Hong Kong, still drew in the crowds as workers went there to remit money to their families or pick up Filipino goods.

It's business as usual in World-Wide Plaza

Guards at the mall marshaled the flood of people getting in, but, unlike in most other establishments, there was no temperature check for customers.

It’s still early days, but on this day at least, Filipinos showed they were one in ensuring the community’s safety amid the raging pandemic.

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67 cases now linked to bars, but imported cases top the list

Posted on No comments

By The SUN

The latest cases reported involve 3 staff members of All Night Long in Tsim Sha Tsui

A total of 67 cases of Covid-19 infections have now been linked to cases involving at least four bars across Hong Kong, including not just musicians, staff and their family members, but also patrons.

Hong Kong health officials also said today, Mar 29, that four bars apart from those already identified, have emerged as the cause of some new infections. They did not, however, name the four new bars.

Still, most of the newly confirmed cases are of people who have just arrived from abroad, mostly college students returning from their schools in the United Kingdom.

Over the weekend, a total of 123 new confirmed cases were recorded, for a total tally of 642. Saturday’s 64 new cases nearly matched the record 65 cases reported on Friday.

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Among the new cases involving the so-called Lan Kwai Fong cluster was a family of four in Mid-Levels, who were all recorded as having tested positive on Mar 28. They included a bar staff, his wife and two sons, aged 15 and 7.

Four other linked cases were reported on the same day, involving two bar employees and two customers.

On Mar 29, three more patients were linked to the cluster cases, all employees of All Night Long bar in Tsim Sha Tsui.

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The other bars have been identified as Insomnia in Lan Kwai Fong, and Dusk till Dawn and Centre Stage in Wan Chai. All of the bars, along with nine bands made up mostly by Filipinos, are reportedly managed by a company called Step-by-Step.

Separately, a 40-year-old woman reported to be linked to the bar cluster, had tested preliminary positive on arrival in Hong Kong, after vacationing in Macau for five days. During her vacation, she reportedly ate everyday at a Jollibee outlet, but also went shopping for groceries.

Consul Paul Saret, head of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, says they have reached out to all Filipino patients who have been infected and are in hospitals.

“We have responded to their simple requests, like sending them battery packs for their cell phones so they can continue communicating with their family members,” he said. “Some only asked for fruits.”

He said Hong Kong health authorities have yet to update them on the total number of Filipino patients, likely because of the huge number of new cases being reported each day for the past several days.

The cases are called the Lan Kwai Fong cluster because the first reported infection was traced to Insomnia on this street

As of the latest Consulate tally, 16 Filipinos are still in hospital, while four have been discharged after recovering. Most work as domestic helpers, but they also include six musicians.

The huge spike in new cases has prompted Hong Kong health authorities to warn that public hospitals are about the run out of isolation rooms.

Sundan ang Kuwentong Dram Love

Dr Sara Ho, the Hospital Authority’s chief manager of patient safety and risk management, said: “We’re indeed very worried that the situation will worsen. No matter how hard we’re trying to have more isolation beds, we probably cannot meet the growing demand.”

As of Mar 29, there were 540 patients under isolation, while 118 have been discharged after treatment. On this day alone, 204 new admissions were reported.

Residents found ill on arrival, or shortly after arrival, in Hong Kong, make up the bulk of the newly confirmed cases.

On Mar 28, 47 had traveled during the incubation period, and 26 were overseas students in the

U.K.

A big number of the students did not show symptoms, prompting health officials to start testing all new arrivals, including those who are asymptomatic, from Mar 29.

All new arrivals will be provided with specimen collection containers which they are encouraged to submit immediately to the testing center at Asia World-Expo. Those who prefer to go into home quarantine immediately are advised to get family members or friends submit their specimen immediately.

Among the returning students from the

U.K.

is a 14-year-old teenage male who is believed to have transmitted the virus to his parents and a brother. They all returned positive results in the first tests. Another 3 preliminary cases are airline crew members.

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Philippines top origin of dengue cases in HK this year

Posted on 28 March 2020 No comments

By The SUN

Dengue is caused by the Aedes Egypti mosquito, which abounds in the Philippines

Travelers from the Philippines have accounted for seven of the 18 dengue fever cases recorded in Hong Kong since Jan 1, a report from the Department of Health said.

Four cases were imported from Indonesia, two each from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, and one from Cambodia, the CHP said.

The Centre for Health Protection released on Mar 27 the latest data on dengue cases, as it strongly urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures locally and when traveling.

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From Mar 6 to 26 alone, the CHP recorded three imported dengue cases. Two patients had been to Indonesia and a third had been to the Philippines during the incubation period.

The CHP also said it has been closely monitoring the latest dengue fever situation in neighboring areas and other countries. Among these is Guangdong province in China, which recorded 15 cases of dengue during the past year, while Taiwan said it had 49 imported cases.

The mosquito-borne disease has been plaguing the

Philippines

for a few decades now, but it was only last year that dengue was declared an epidemic by the government.

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Statistics released by the World Health Organization show that in 2019, the Philippines had 429,409 dengue cases, the second biggest number after Brazil, which recorded 2.23 million cases. For this year so far, the Philippines reported 37,058 cases.

The CHP said the public should stay vigilant and carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures.

“Travelers returning from areas affected by dengue should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

He said to control mosquito breeding, the public should:

· Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;

· Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;

· Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;

· Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;

· Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;

· Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and

· Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-colored long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.
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Cautious customers shun restaurant across infected Wanchai bars

Posted on No comments

By Vir B. Lumicao

Cinta-J faces two of the virus-infested bars along Jaffe Rd in Wanchai

A popular Wanchai restaurant favored by Filipinos and their friends faces a tough time, after reports that the dreaded coronavirus disease had swept through two adjacent bars across the road.

Cinta-J, which has been in business for more than 30 years, finds itself at the receiving end of a fallout from the infection that swept through staff and performers at the now shuttered The Centre Stage and Dusk Till Dawn bars on Jaffe Road.

The two bars, along with Insomnia in Lan Kwai Fong, Central, and All Night Long in Tsim Sha Tsui, have been identified as the sources of a cluster infection that has struck down 27 musicians and staff, along with 16 customers.

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On Friday, Mar 27 alone, 10 staff and a performer at Dusk and Insomnia were reported as having contracted Covid-19, along with nine patrons.

The reports appear to have spooked customers of Cinta-J, a restaurant-bar across the road that serves both Indonesian and Filipino food, and also provides live entertainment at night.

“Dati laging puno ng tao rito, kahit lunchtime, lalo na kapag araw ng Biyernes tulad ngayon,” said Jackie Flores, a 38-year-old waitress at Cinta-J, said.

Flores, left, and a fellow waitress, sit amid an empty Cinta-J restaurant

She said that before the contagion, the restaurant would normally have dozens of office workers lining up to eat or order take-out food for lunch.

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At night, the place would be even more crowded, with many people coming in to listen to their in-house band perform starting at 6pm.

But on this day, Flores, along with two other staff, were the only people in the eatery.

“Ngayon ay wala na sila, walang dumarating simula kanina,” she said referring to lunchtime.

She said customers would usually start arriving at around 3pm for some snacks and drinks. Many would stay on for the performances of their all-Filipino band that belts out a wide range of songs, from English and Tagalog ballads, to classic and modern rock.

Guests would pour in until late at night, especially for their favorite part, when band members would start accepting song requests, or invite members of the audience to sing along.

Sunday is usually the busiest day at Cinta-J because many Filipinos migrant workers hankering for food from home gather there to celebrate special occasions, or just to meet up, dance and sing.

That, too, has changed since Hong Kong was hit by the coronavirus infection, and the government advised migrant workers to stay at home on their rest day. Many employers seized this as an opportunity to stop their helpers from taking their usual Sunday off.

But the biggest whammy came on Mar 25, when a record five musicians who played in Insomnia and the two bars, along with a waitress, were included in the day’s list of new Covid-19 infections.

“Bale dalawang araw na kaming zero,” said Flores.

She said the crowds began thinning after the first band member tested positive on Mar 23.

“Kitang-kita ng mga customer namin noong pinuntahan ng ambulansya ng mga taga-Health Department ang dalawang bar na iyan,” Flores said.

Health workers also went up to the band members’ flat in Hang Shun Mansions just above the two bars, to disinfect the place. Many of the performers, who were mostly recruited from the Philippines on short-term contracts, lived in the flat.

Flores said she understood the customers’ fear, although Cinta-J itself has not been infected. But she can’t help but worry about the economic repercussions of the contagion.

At lunchtime on Mar 27, very few people were on Jaffe Road, some of them office workers scurrying through, with lunchboxes bought from other restaurants in the area.

Both Dusk till Dawn and Centre Stage have been boarded up after the outbreak

Inside the shuttered bars, two or three people could be seen moving behind the translucent window panes of Dusk Till Dawn.

Asked if they were employees of the bar, Flores said they were health workers disinfecting the entire pub after cleansing the Centre Stage.

The same grim picture emerged over at Lan Kwai Fong, where Insomnia, identified as the epicenter of the biggest outbreak in the entertainment scene, stands forlorn, its dim, empty interior watched over by a stone sculpture of a horned head.

Its entrance, once a place to be seen in the most popular nightspot in the city, is now blocked by two decks of wooden bar stools, lined up behind a pair of green plastic chains.

Once the place to be in Lan Kwai Fong, Insomnia is now shuttered after disinfection

A sign in front says, “Due to the pandemic, we are closed until further notice. Keep safe and healthy.”

The sad saga of what was once one of Hong Kong’s favorite bars may not be over yet.

Hong Kong’s health officials say more than 120 people working in the bars have been quarantined. A number of their friends are also being checked in case they, too, have been infected.

But they have also been quick to say that the source of the outbreak has not been determined, so there should be no finger-pointing, or laying blame on anyone.

The musicians, the food servers and other staff, are the least to blame for the outbreak. They are, in fact, victims. They got struck while doing their jobs.

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