Filipino seafarers among those quarantined in six ships off Lamma

By Daisy CL Mandap

Some infected Filipino seafarers are among those quarantined in the 6 container ships moored off Lamma

Six container ships with about 140 sailors on board have been put under quarantine off Lamma island after some of their crew members tested positive on arrival at Hong Kong airport, before boarding their respective vessels.

According to Hong Kong health officials who gave a press briefing today, Jul 23, on the latest Covid-19 situation in the city, the seafarers who tested positive were from the Philippines, India, Russia and Montenegro.

The officials said the non-infected crew members couldn’t be sent to quarantine camps because there should be people on board to man the ships.

Pindutin para sa detalye

No mention was made as to how many of the seafarers had tested positive.

Their quarantine period will end on Aug. 3.

Hong Kong had exempted airline and shipping staff from mandatory virus tests and a 14-day quarantine starting on June 8. Both conditions are imposed on all other travelers entering the city.

But with the recent surge in local infections, the government imposed a mandatory saliva test on the air and sea crew from Jul 8. Since then, Hong Kong’s daily Covid-19 tally has included at least two sea or air cargo crew on average.

Pindutin para sa detalye!

Some health experts have criticized this as a loophole in the government’s otherwise strict effort to contain the pandemic.

 

Leung says the new wave of infections appears to have been brought in by people exempted from quarantine

Among them was Dr Gabriel Leung, dean of the faculty medicine at Hong Kong University, who blamed the current wave of infections on people who brought the virus from outside, most likely by people exempted from mandatory quarantine.

Leung said samples taken from recent Covid-19 patients showed little resemblance to earlier strains of the coronavirus that affected Hong Kong earlier this year.

Call us!

“The current third wave seemed to have had multiple, new introductions that are unlinked to the previous local clusters,” he said in an interview with RTHK.

Asked about this statement, undersecretary for food and health Chui Tak-yi said a balance must be struck between reducing imported cases and maintaining essential services like food supply that is shipped in.

Under the concessions made by Hong Kong last month, all seafarers can enter the city to either get home or board their vessel without being subjected to quarantine or special permits.

However, seafarers who have completed their service are required to stay onboard the vessel during their stay in Hong Kong, and travel directly to the airport for repatriation to their home countries so as to minimise contact with the local community.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love

Incoming crewmembers should only fly in when their vessels are berthed in Hong Kong and should get onboard immediately upon arrival. If this is not possible, their shipping agent should put them in a hotel where they should self-isolate until they can get onboard, and arrange direct transfer to their vessel.

Hong Kong made the concession after unions called on shipping companies to stop seafarers working beyond the duration of their contracts.

Strict travel restrictions across the globe because of Covid-19 resulted in more than 200,000 seafarers working way beyond their contract period, some for more than a year, resulting in many cases of severe mental breakdowns among the crew.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

CALL US FOR MORE DETAILS

PRESS FOR MORE DETAILS

Two DHs seek lenient sentence after alleged leader of fake documents ring acquitted

By Vir B. Lumicao

 

The District Court judge did not believe the Filipinas' testimony against the alleged mastermind of the scam

Two Filipina domestic helpers who admitted conspiring to use fake documents to apply for British work visa have pleaded leniency ahead of their sentencing in Shatin court.

Criselda Bantasan, 31, and Cristy Par, 47, were originally scheduled for sentencing today, Jul 23, at the District Court but Judge Li Chi-ho decided to postpone their sentencing until Aug 4, and move it to the Shatin magistracy.

The Filipinas testified in the District Court against the alleged mastermind of the scam, who was, however acquitted, after the judge expressed doubts about their evidence.

Pindutin para sa detalye

Defense lawyer Teddy Lam, for Bantasan, pleaded for a lenient sentence for his client, saying she had already suffered she had been unable to work for the past 18 months. If she were not granted bail, she would have served her sentence by now.

Lam pointed out that his client was a victim who lost $3,000 when she applied for a job in Britain for which the Manila-based syndicate had produced the fake documents.

He said Bantasan has been staying in a shelter in Kennedy Town for the past 18 months, and lives off the monthly donation of $120 she receives from fellow domestic workers and friends.

Pindutin para sa detalye!

Lam said Bantasan needs to return to her family in the Philippines at the earliest possible time to take care of her mother. He said Bantasan’s father died last year but she could not attend the funeral because of the pending case.

Lawyer Vivian Chan, representing Par, also asked for “the most lenient sentence” for her client, who she said was also a victim of the syndicate and whom her employers described as “the best domestic helper” they ever had.

Call us!

Chan said the defendant continued to live in her employers’ home but cannot work for pay because although her permit to stay was extended, her employment visa was not.

She said the employers like Par very much that all members of the household were at today’s hearing.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love

Bantasan and Par were charged with “conspiracy to use copies of false instruments” on Feb 22, 2018 after their arrests for submitting forged employers’ documents at the UK Visa Application Centre at Leighton Centre in Causeway Bay in April and May 2016.

The two women were applying for jobs as domestic helpers in Britain at an agency operated by a certain Mrs Chan. 

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

CALL US FOR MORE DETAILS

PRESS FOR MORE DETAILS

HK’s Covid-19 tally hits a new daily high of 118 cases, with 1 more death

By The SUN

 

Clean-up operations are being carried out in many parts of HK as the Covid-19 cases continue to surge

Hong Kong reported today, Jul 23, an additional 118 Covid-19 cases, the biggest number to have been recorded since the outbreak began in January this year.

Of the new cases, 111 were locally acquired, another record high. On top of the confirmed cases, around 80 other people have tested preliminary positive from midnight last night.

One more death was recorded this afternoon, raising the fatality toll to 15. The deceased was a 63-year-old man with chronic illnesses who died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Pindutin para sa detalye

Of the seven imported cases, three were foreign domestic helpers who had just arrived from the Philippines, three were returnees from India, and one an air cargo crew who flew in from Japan.

In addition, 140 seafarers, some of them Filipinos, have been quarantined in six different ships anchored off Lamma island, after an undetermined number among their crew tested positive on arrival at Hong Kong airport.

But a bigger concern is still the rapid spread of the coronavirus in the community.

Pindutin para sa detalye!

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said that among today’s local cases, more than 60 are linked to previous infections, most of them among family members and co-workers, while the rest are of unknown origin.

A big number are linked to Tsz Wan Shan, the epicenter of the latest outbreak. They include several more diners at restaurants in the area, and another vegetable vendor in the wet market.

But there were new cases involving various eateries, including a staff at McDonald’s in Telford Plaza in Kowloon Bay, another in a Thai restaurant in Tai Kok Tsui, a third in  Tsui Hing Garden in Tuen Mun, plus a dishwasher at a Japanese restaurant in Pacific Place.

In addition, there was an inventory staff at a Market Place outlet in Taipo.

 

HK's health officials have repeated an appeal for people to stay at home, especially the elderly

Dr Chuang said some of the new cases had been to a banquet at the Tao Heung restaurant in Mong Kok, where other guests had tested positive earlier. Tao Heung said all its restaurants will be closed for 10 days from Sunday for cleansing.

Call us!

But restaurants weren’t the only source of infections. Today’s cases also included a police officer at the Wanchai station, a secondary school teacher, a truck driver who works at the Tsing Ma container port, staff at an elderly home in Tai Wai, a health worker at Queen Elizabeth hospital, and staff at a Chinese medical clinic in Kwai Chung.

The number of critically ill patients also rose to an all-time high of 33 today, with 14  in serious condition, according to the Hospital Authority’s Dr Linda Yu. The 566 others who are in 14 public hospitals are in stable condition.

According to Chuang, the high number of critically or seriously patients is mainly because many of the new patients are elderly people with chronic ailments, “who came to the hospital rather late.”

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love

This has led Undersecretary for Food and Health Chui Tak-yi to appeal to the public, particularly the elderly, to avoid going out, and for everyone not to gather for meals including with family members living in another flat.

He said that between Jul 16 to Jul 22, a total of 543 confirmed cases recorded, and 481 of them were locally acquired. This was more than twice as many as the number in the previous week.

That was the reason, according to him, for the government’s stringent new measures, including a requirement for everyone to wear a mask when going to indoor public places like a supermarket and wet market, apart from public transportation.

From Saturday, all new arrivals from seven countries identified as high-risk, including the Philippines, will have to present proof of testing negative in a swab test for Covid-19, and a confirmed booking for at least 14 days in a Hong Kong hotel, for the mandatory quarantine.

On Jul 28, the requirements will be extended to those flying in from the United States and Kazakshtan.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

CALL US FOR MORE DETAILS

PRESS FOR MORE DETAILS

Makati Med, Chinese Gen offer Covid-19 test result in 1-2 days

By Daisy CL Mandap

Makati Med offers the fastest result of between 1-2 days

A list currently circulating in the Philippines shows that among the top hospitals in Metro Manila, only Makati Medical Center and Chinese General Hospital meet the requirement for a quick test result for those intending to fly to Hong Kong from this Saturday, Jul 25.

Hong Kong’s new travel restrictions for people arriving from “high risk” countries such as the Philippines require a negative Covid-19 swab test result issued within 72 hours, or 3 days, before the passenger’s flight schedule.

The list shows MMC guarantees the test result to come out between 1-2 days, at a cost of Php8,150 per test.

Pindutin para sa detalye!

Chinese General promises a result within 48 hours (2 days), for a lower cost of Php5,500. The swab test is done through a drive-thru, and the result will be sent through text messaging, or by email.

All the other hospitals offer to release the test result no earlier than 3 days, which will be of no use for Hong Kong-bound travelers keen to ensure they get to board their flight as scheduled; otherwise the cost would be too great.

Apart from the Philippines, Hong Kong’s new travel restrictions will apply to six other countries with effect from Jul 25: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal and South Africa.

Call us!

From Jul 29, the same requirements will be imposed on new arrivals from the United States and Kazakhstan.

The arriving passengers from these countries will have to present the original test result, a certificate showing that the traveler tested negative, and another certificate showing the laboratory that did the test is accredited with the government of the country of origin.

In addition, they should show proof of a confirmed booking in a Hong Kong hotel for no less than 14 days for their mandatory quarantine.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love

The list being passed around was, however, not drawn up for those flying to Hong Kong, but for those who either want to have the swab test done because they have symptoms, or newly arrived Filipinos who want to get out of quarantine quickly.

 

Chinese General promises the test result in 48 hours (2 days)

A Filipina who flew to Manila from Hong Kong on Jul 12 was among those in the second category. Anxious to make sure she wouldn’t stay in a hotel for her quarantine longer than necessary, she arranged to have a second swab test done on her in her hotel.

The first one, according to her, was done by the Philippine Coast Guard at the airport for free, and a result was promised between 3-5 days. But as she didn’t want to risk being locked down in her hotel room for a long time, she opted to have another test with MMC.

According to her, only Discovery Primea in Makati allows MMC staff to come in and administer the swab test right in your hotel room, but at a hefty price tag of Php9,800 (about USD200), so she chose to check in there.

CALL US!

But MMC delivered as promised. The Filipina Hong Kong resident got her test result within the day, although she opted to stay in the hotel for another day. Her two-day stay cost Php20,000, inclusive of three meals.

“I still got to save because I didn’t have to stay in the hotel for an indefinite period,” said the Filipina.

As soon as she got her printed test result, she was able to check out of her hotel, and go home directly to her Makati residence, with no need for additional quarantine. That, to her, was the best part.

For those living in places outside of Metro Manila, the story might be different, as many local government officials strictly implement the 14-day quarantine, often requiring the returning resident to stay in poorly equipped isolation facilities.

Here is the list of hospitals with the cost of the test and expected release time:

ASIAN HOSPITAL (BGC)

Cost: Php 8,150

Maximum of 3 days
Tel No: 632 87719000

CARDINAL SANTOS MEDICAL CENTER (San Juan)
PHP 7,500 (Online Booking)
PHP 8,000 (Walk-In)
3-5 days
Tel No: 632 87270001

CHINESE GENERAL HOSPITAL (Manila)

Php5,500 (drive-thru)
48 hours

will text result/ send to email

MAKATI MEDICAL CENTER (Makati)

Php8,150
1-2 days
Tel No: 632 88888999

PHILIPPINE RED CROSS (Mandaluyong)

Php1,158 - Php4,000 
approx. 1 week

ST LUKE’S GLOBAL CITY
Php 6500 drive-thru, Php 4,300 Out-patient
2-3 days
Tel No: 632 87897700

ST LUKE’S QUEZON CITY

Php 4,300
2-3 days
Tel No: 632 87230101

ST MARTIN DE PORRES CHARITY HOSPITAL (San Juan)

Php 4,000
3 days
Tel No: 632  8723 0743

THE MEDICAL CITY PASIG

Php8,150
3 days
Tel No 632 89881000

VRP MEDICAL CENTER (Mandaluyong)

Php7,000 – Php10,000 through ER
3 working days

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

CALL US FOR MORE DETAILS

PRESS FOR MORE DETAILS

Relief as Filipina gets visa extension after unwittingly overstaying for 5 months

By Vir B. Lumicao

Albo on a recent hike. She wasn't aware she had been in HK illegally for 5 months

While Filipina helper and avid photo bug Thonie Albo was going up trails in Hong Kong’s countryside recently, she did not realize that she was already staying in Hong Kong illegally. 

She only learned this when staff from an employment agency that was processing her new work contract informed her on Jul 18 that she had already breached immigration laws by overstaying her employment visa.

It turned out her former employer had neglected to inform the Immigration Department that Albo had reconsidered her resignation in February.

Pindutin para sa detalye!

Albo, 40, was confident that her visa was still valid because she herself had sent the department a letter in February canceling her resignation notice as her employer had pleaded with her to stay on until her contract expires.

For some reason that letter did not reach Immigration so Albo didn’t know that her visa was cancelled 14 days after her notice period had lapsed.

After being assured by a friend that she should be able to sort out her problem as she had documents to prove her case, Albo went to the Immigration Tower in Wanchai to explain her side.

Call us!

She told the officer that she was prevailed upon by her employer to finish her contract on Aug. 8, and not leave on Mar 20 as she had stated in her notice of termination.

Albo told the officer she sent a letter to Immigration also in February, asking the department to cancel her termination notice. She showed the officer a copy of that letter.

But the officer was still not satisfied. He gave Albo a form to fill and instructed her to ask her employer for a longer written explanation on what happened.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love

Early yesterday afternoon, Albo returned to the Immigration Department with the required documents. By 4pm, she was already on her way home with a new visa that is valid until Aug 11.

It turned out Albo’s employer did not notify Immigration about the cancellation of the termination notice as she wanted the helper to sign up for a new contract.

After failing to convince Albo to stay on, the employer then refused to give her an early release, even if she said she wanted to use her 14 days’ annual leave.

CALL US!

The helper said the employer did not even look concerned when informed by Albo last Saturday evening about her having overstayed.

“Ayaw pa nga akong pagreportin, feeling po niya hindi urgent. Sabi ko huhulihin na ako ng pulis,” the maid said.

(She didn’t even want me to report back (to Immigration), she feels it wasn’t urgent. I told her, the police are about to arrest me)

Albo said that midway through her two-year contract, she had already thought of leaving because of a lack of sleep, her employer’s tantrums and lack of concern for her.

“Ni hindi man lang nila ako kinuhanan ng health insurance. Ako naman ang mag-suffer kung di ako lilipat,” she said when asked why she was leaving the employer and her two and a half year ward.

(She didn’t take out a health insurance for me. I would have suffered if I didn’t leave).

With Aug 8 barely three weeks away, Albo is excited at finally moving on to her next employers, an Indian family.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

CALL US FOR MORE DETAILS

PRESS FOR MORE DETAILS

Covid-19 cases in HK hit daily high of 113

By The SUN

 

Public hospitals are now 75% full because of the spike in the number of cases

Hong Kong recorded 113 new Covid-19 cases today, Jul 22, the biggest single-day tally since the outbreak began in January this year. The latest figure topped the previous record of 108 cases reported on Sunday.

The historic number was announced as Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan unveiled more stringent measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, and warned of further restrictions if the infection tally continues to rise.

Pindutin para sa detalye!

Chan said the stricter measures would focus on social distancing, but did not rule out a lockdown, even if a government statement issued only yesterday said this was “fake news.”

“Whether there will be a lockdown depends on the entire situation. We are looking at some of the international practices. We also have to balance people’s basic daily needs in Hong Kong,” she said.

 

Dr Chan now says a lockdown cannot be discounted if the surge in cases continues

The new measures announced today include requiring travelers from the United States and Kazakhstan to test negative for the virus no longer than 72 hours prior to flying in.

They will also have to show proof that they they have confirmed bookings in a hotel in Hong Kong for their mandatory 14-day quarantine, before being allowed to board their flights.

The new travel restriction takes effect on Jul 29.

Call us!

The same requirement was previously imposed on travelers flying in from seven countries deemed as high risk for the virus - the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and South Africa. Those coming from these places will have to comply with the pre-boarding requirements starting this Saturday, Jul 25.

Among the new cases today which took Hong Kong’s total tally to 2,132 were eight imported cases.

Four of these flew in from Manila, three domestic helpers and one seafarer. Two were cargo plane crew from India and Kazakhstan, and two were returnees from the U.S.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love

Of the 105 local cases, 42 had links to previous cases, including family members and friends of the infected patients. The sources of the remaining 63 were unknown.

The untraceable cases include a chef at Pottinger Hotel in Central, a kindergarten teacher in To Kwa Wan, two secondary teachers (from Po Leung Kuk Pershing Tsang School and St Clare’s Girls Schoo), a nurse at St Paul’s Hospital and a staff in an eye specialist centre, both in Causeway Bay.

There was also a cleaner at the Salvation Army elderly home, a lawyer who visited the reception counter at the Correctional Services Deparment, and a taxi driver.

CALL US!

Among the linked cases are two patients at Queen Elizabeth Hospital who tested positive after being isolated as close contacts of a previously confirmed patient; and an outpatient at the physiotherapy department of Northern Hospital, whose family member was also infected.

Two separate incidents at two hospitals also caused concern. In the first case, a patient who was in an isolation room at Princess Margaret became emotional, and a nurse who helped restrain him dislodged her N95 mask. In the other case, a patient vomited on the hand of a support staff at Tuen Mun Hospital. Both staff were isolated as close contacts.

There were also new cases in the restaurant clusters. Three more patients were linked to the Pier Market in Grand Tower in Mong Kok, another three went to a different branch of the restaurant on the same day.

There was a new case linked to Fulum Palace in Sha Tin, and another to Victoria Harbour Restaurant at MetroPark Hotel in Mong Kok.

Virus hotspot Tsz Wan Shan also had five new cases of people who work at a restaurant, a hair salon, as well as the wet market there.

The Broadway shop at Plaza Hollywood was the link to two more cases – one staff member, and another who recently bought a telephone at the store.,

Another employee at Novotel Citygate hotel in Tung Chung also tested positive.

Dr Linda Yu of the Hospital Authority said that there are 645 patients currently confined at 14 hospitals. Twenty-nine of them are in critical condition, 14 are in serious condition, and 62 are stable.

The usage rate for the negative pressure beds has reached 75.4%, and the HA is making final preparations for setting up new facilities in case a new surge in cases result in a shortage of isolation rooms.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

CALL US FOR MORE DETAILS

PRESS FOR MORE DETAILS