One Filipina and one Indonesian DH among 21 new Covid-19 cases

By The SUN

 

The community-wide testing has uncovered 15 infections so far, including today's 5

A 33-year-old Filipina domestic helper who arrived from Manila on Friday was among six imported cases out of 21 newly confirmed coronavirus patients today, Sept 6, in Hong Kong, according to health officials.

Five of the new cases were detected through the universal community testing, including a 42-year-old Indonesian domestic helper who was found infected along with her employers, a 92-year-old man and his 89-year-old wife.

The three  who live in Victoria Towers in Tsim Sha Tsui went to the Castle Peak Road testing center in Tuen Mun on Sept 2 and were found positive yesterday, according to Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection.

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The helper reportedly developed symptoms such as a sore throat on Aug 22 while her employers had symptoms on Aug 29. The couple went to a private doctor who treated them for several days, Chuang said.

The doctor and the patients at the clinic visited by the patients will be quarantined and put under medical surveillance.

The two other cases uncovered through the mass testing are a 60-year-old housewife who lives in Tung Chung and a 59-year-old man who lives in Ngau Chi Wan and used to work at Jinlin Palace Restaurant in Wan Chai which has been closed. 

Chuang said officials would continue to monitor the number of cases daily to see whether there was an upward trend. Yesterday, only seven cases were recorded, and 12 the day before.

“We have 21 cases today and five are a result of the universal community testing, which explains a bit but not all the cases,” she said. “We will have to observe day by day to see if there is an increasing trend or not.”

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Apart from the Filipina DH, the five other imported cases were two airline crew from the United States and Russia, and returnees from Spain, India and Pakistan.

The Pakistani returnee was the pregnant woman aged 25 who tested preliminary positive during her ante-natal check-up at Tuen Mun Hospital yesterday, one day after finishing her 14-day quarantine.

Chuang said five other local cases were linked while seven others had unknown sources.

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Fewer than 10 people tested preliminarily positive. 

Chuang said all inmates at detention facilities will be tested after two detainees tested positive today.

The first was a 54-year-old detainee at Lai Chi Kok Detention Centre who was previously confined at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre and tested preliminary positive yesterday.

More than 7,000 inmates will be tested after the second detainee tested positive at Castle Peak

The second was a detainee who had just completed his sentence in Pik Uk Prison and was taken to the Castle Peak Immigration Detention Centre where he was tested and found infected on Sept 5.

The inmate served his sentence in Pik Uk Prison from Aug 22 to Sept 5 after being held at Lai Chi Kok reception center. Chuang said all his close contacts at Pik Uk, the CIDC and Lai Chi Kok will have to be quarantined and sample bottles distributed for testing.

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“In view of two cases…we are arranging with the Security Bureau to conduct a one-off testing for all persons in custody which will involve more than 7,000 people,” Chuang said.

The new cases brought to 4,879 the total number of people infected with Covid-19 since the outbreak in Hong Kong began in late January .

A 69-year-old female Covid-19 patient who was being treated in isolation at Kwong Wah Hospital in Yaumatei passed away Saturday night and an 82-year-old male patient died tonight at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, bringing the death toll to 95.

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Hospital Authority chief manager Dr Linda Yu said 18 patients have recovered and were discharged over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 4,510.

As of 9 am today, 223 confirmed patients are still being treated in 19 public hospitals and the community treatment facility  in AsiaWorld-Expo, among which 21 are in critical condition, 14 are in serious condition and the remaining 188 patients are in stable condition.

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Asymptomatic Filipina DH tests positive at universal testing

By Daisy CL Mandap

The infected Filipina remained in Yuen Long even during her off days

A Filipina who spent weekends gathering with her fellow domestic helpers in Yuen Long was among seven confirmed Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong today, Sept 5, the lowest number in more than two months.

The 39-year-old Filipina was one of two infected patients detected yesterday after they volunteered to join the  universal community testing now underway across the city. A total of 10 infections have been uncovered  from the scheme so far.

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According to Dr Chuang Shuk-wan of the Centre for Health Protection, the Filipina lives with her employer in Tai Tseng Wai village in Yuen Long. On weekends, like on Aug 29-30, she would go to a village house where she gathered with her fellow FDHs.

“We learned that she would stay with her fellow countrymen at a certain place. They would be chatting, they would be having a lot of fun and they will stay there for a long time together. Sometimes they do not wear face mask all the time,” Chuang said.

After the Filipina tested positive, her employer as well as two of her friends she socialized with, plus another who lives in the house where they hung out, would be put in a quarantine centre for 14 days.

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The Filipina, who was asymptomatic, had herself tested on Sept 2 at Chiu Lut Sau Secondary School in Yuen Long.

The other patient from the mass testing is a 60-year-old man who works as an aircon repairman in Nga Tsin Long Road in Kowloon City, and often went to a teahouse near his workplace. He lives with his wife on Argyle Street.

CHP records show he developed symptoms on Aug 31, but still joined the mass testing the next day at the Kowloon City Sports Centre.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam visiting one of the testing centres in Kowloon

All the new infections were locally acquired, with four linked and three of unknown origin.

The third unknown case is a 62-year-old garage repairman in Tokwawan who usually went to restaurants near his workplace. He lives in Fung Tak estate in Diamond Hill.

Two of the linked cases were reported as preliminary positive yesterday. One is a 63-year-old man who stayed at Metropark Hotel in Mong Kok, and is the fifth confirmed case from that cluster.

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The other is the 64-year-old security guard in Tai Wai, whose wife was among those reported as a positive case yesterday, after she took part in the mass testing on Sept 1.

The two other patients, both females, aged 55 and 72, are linked to family clusters.

Two of at least 10 preliminary positive cases have caused concern because they interacted with a number of people before their infection was detected.

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One is a 25-year-old pregnant Pakistani woman who was found infected after she was tested during an ante-natal check-up in Tuen Mun Hospital.

The woman, who is 36 weeks pregnant, attended her scheduled check-up yesterday, a day after ending her 14-day quarantine after arriving from Pakistan. She reportedly flew in via Doha along with her husband and son.

A cleaner who did not wear protective gear when she cleaned the toilet in the hospital after the patient had used it, will be put in quarantine.

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Another who tested preliminary positive is a 54-year-old inmate at the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre who attended a hearing at West Kowloon Court yesterday. After developing a fever last night, he was sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was tested.

The man was initially to the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre on Aug 21, but was moved to the detention facility on Thursday. He reportedly wore a mask while getting in and out of the different facilities and the court.

But as a precautionary measure, several hundred specimen bottles will be handed out to inmates and staff at the two detention centres. At least one man who shared a cell with the patient has been put under medical surveillance.

Chuang said it is up to the Security Bureau to decide whether to conduct mass testing among inmates and staff at the different detention facilities.

Of the 4,858 confirmed cases in Hong Kong to date, only 236 patients are still being treated in 20 public hospitals and the treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo. Among them, 23 are in critical condition, 14 are in serious condition, and 199 are stable.

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HK joins global alliance in race to develop & get Covid-19 vaccine

By The SUN

HK promises to get the vaccine as soon as it becomes available for all its residents

Hong Kong has announced that it has formalized its intention to take part in the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (Covax Facility), which is aimed at coordinating strategies to develop a vaccine, and ensure its equitable distribution around the world.

The Covax Facility, which is co-led by the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) , the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) and the World Health Organization (WHO), aim to have the vaccines delivered to participating countries or economies by the end of next year.

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In a statement, the Food and Health Bureau said that although the WHO has said that no vaccine has yet been approved for use with humans, Hong Kong has decided to take action this early because it expects a keen global competition when a vaccine does emerge.

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“Hong Kong needs to take early action to reserve potential vaccines for our population in a timely manner. Taking part in the COVAX Facility can serve as a safety net for Hong Kong to a certain extent," said the statement.

But it said Hong Kong is doing more than take part in the global alliance, which assures that only a proportion of the city’s population will get the vaccine, and its target delivery date of end of next year might be a bit late.

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In previous statements, Hong Kong officials said only 20% of the total population of each participating country or economy is assured of getting the vaccine through Covax, so they have started pursuing talks with private groups to ensure the city’s residents all get it on time.

 The Department of Health is now said to be already pursuing additional supplies through advance purchase agreements with individual vaccine developers, while trying to learn more about the production of vaccines in other places, including the Mainland.

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 "The Government will continue to adopt the two-pronged strategy to procure vaccines meeting the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality for our population to protect public health," the statement said.

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Mass testing extended to Sept 11, as two Filipino returnees found infected

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

Officials say the city-wide testing is being extended because of high demand 

Hong Kong government officials have announced the extension of the city-wide testing for Covid-19 for four days, or until Sept. 11, as those who have signed up for the exercise reached nearly one million by 11am today, Sept 4.

Dr Sophia Chan, Secretary for Food and Health, said the universal testing is an important step in the prevention and control of the epidemic, and would be beneficial in the city’s preparation “for the next wave in the winter.”

So far, eight positive cases have been detected from the mass testing, half of them  previously-known infections, and the other half, new cases.

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The four cases were among the 12 new cases reported today.

Also included were five imported cases, including two Filipinas belonging to the same family who tested positive while in quarantine. One is 46 years old, the other is 18.

The older patient developed symptoms on Sept 1, and the younger one two days later. They were both staying at the Ramada Hong Kong Grand Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui when they were found infected on their second test.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said the two flew in aboard Cathay Pacific’s Flight CX 906 from Manila earlier.

The infected Filipinos flew in aboard CX 906 from Manila

The other imported cases were an Indonesian domestic worker who arrived on Sept 2, an infant who arrived from Pakistan, and another returnee from Pakistan who transited in Doha, Qatar.

Five of the cases were of unknown source, including the four detected from the universal testing.

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Of the two linked cases, one involving a guest at Metropark Hotel in Mong Kok caused serious concern, as he was found to have stayed on the same floor as two previous patients, one of whom died before he could be diagnosed.

“So far, guests in three rooms on the same floor are infected and they do not know each other. We are worried there might be a further outbreak there,” Dr Chuang said.

A fourth confirmed case is a relative of the 87-year-old man who died, and had stayed in the same room. A fifth guest is said to have tested preliminary positive.

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Authorities will now evacuate 20 guests and staff linked to the same floor, and move them to quarantine centres. All other guests and staff at the hotel will be given tests.

20 people will be evacuated from Metropark Mongkok after 4 guests tested positive for Covid-19

As previously reported, the two earlier ones were a 63-year-old male retiree who lives in Kwai Tsing whose main outdoor activity was visiting nearby wet markets, and a 22-year-old woman who also did not work and occasionally met up with friends.

The two new cases include a 67-year-old woman who is retired and lives in Jordan, and often went to the Yau Ma Tei wet market. She developed low-grade fever and diarrhea between Aug 18 and 22, but did not see a doctor.

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The other case is a 46-year-old housewife who may be linked to a previous case in Tai Wai. One day after getting herself tested on Sept 1, she and her husband developed a fever.

Her husband, who is a security officer at the Transport Department, was also tested, and is now classified as preliminary positive.

During contact tracing, it emerged that the husband had met up briefly with a colleague in late August without wearing a mask. This colleague later tested positive for the coronavirus, and Chuang says a transmission might have occurred during their short meeting.

Also at the briefing, Dr Linda Yu of the Hospital Authority revealed that a box containing test samples that went missing from the outpatient clinic of the Tseung Kwan O hospital was taken away by a patient who used it to shield him from the rain, and left in a nearby carpark.

Dr Yu said the hospital has asked those who left samples to get themselves tested again. She also said the hospital is reviewing its procedures for turning over the sample bottles to private contractors, to prevent a recurrence of the incident.

The city’s total confirmed cases now number 4,850, with 94 related deaths. A total of 261 confirmed cases are now in 20 public hospitals and at the community treatment facility in AsiaWorld-Expo. Among these, 26 are in critical condition, 14 are serious, and 221 are in stable condition.

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Filipino gay tourist jailed two months for prostitution

By Vir B. Lumicao

The court heard the defendant was dressed as a sexy woman when he met the undercover agent

A Filipino gay tourist was jailed for two months today, Sept 4, after he admitted in Eastern Court that he violated his condition of stay as a visitor by soliciting sex for a fee.

M Arabejo II pleaded guilty when he was charged before Magistrate Bina Chainrai two days after his arrest at the Best Western Hotel in Causeway Bay by an undercover officer who responded to an online advertisement offering sex for pay.

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The officer reportedly called a telephone number that the advertiser provided on Sept. 2 and he was directed to Room 1611 of the hotel on Bowrington Road.

The prosecution said Arabejo, who was dressed as a woman in a sexy outfit, opened the door and greeted the officer when he arrived at the room at about 2pm. The defendant allegedly told him the fee for a full sex service was $2,000.

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When the defendant began to disrobe, the officer announced he was a policeman and arrested him. Officers who searched the hotel room found 10 unused condoms and a bottle of KY gel.

During investigation, Arabejo was found to have arrived on a visitor visa in Hong Kong on Mar 11 this year and was permitted to remain until Sept 7.

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The prosecutor said the defendant admitted the offense under caution and was charged with breach of condition of stay.   

Chainrai gave a two month’s discount on the defendant’s sentence for his guilty plea.

   

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Pinay DH settles long service claim for $20k after being told she could lose case

By Vir B. Lumicao

The Filipina claimant was told by the tribunal officer she could lose her case

A Filipina helper who was warned by a Labour Tribunal officer that she had little chance of winning a claim for long service and one month’s salary in lieu of notice against her former employer nevertheless managed to walk off with $20,000 in settlement.

Lorena B. Cinco and her employer for seven years, Peter Michael D’Almada Remedios, agreed to settle the case during a hearing before Presiding Officer Timon Shum today, Sept 4.

The Filipina had claimed that she was fired after D’Almada Remedios told her she could leave his house the day after she gave him a termination letter in March.

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The employer had already paid her other amounts such as arrears in wages, air ticket, travel and food allowance.

Cinco was insisting she was fired because the employer did not allow her to continue working for another month during the notice period.

But D’Almada Remedios denied the claim, saying they had both signed a written agreement stating she was resigning and would be released on the same day.

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Cinco said she signed the document only because she was made to believe that the employer would pay her the money she was claiming.

But Shum said that since the helper had already given a notice of termination, the employer had every right to let her go on the spot without paying her a month’s salary in lieu of notice.

Neither could she claim long service pay because she was the one who terminated her employment contract.

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With her stated salary of $8,000 a month, Cinco would have been entitled to more than $45,000 in long service pay and salary in lieu if she was indeed terminated.

But when Shum asked her for a document to prove that she was terminated, Cinco could only produce a text message which read “we talk this over before you leave tomorrow.”

Shum asked for the employer’s message preceding that note, but after reading it, he told the maid there was nothing in it that showed that she was being terminated.

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The presiding officer said if the case went to trial, Cinco was likely to lose. He asked her how much her bottom line was and she said $30,000.

But D’Almada Remedios said he would not go beyond $20,000.

The presiding officer told Cinco the amount was also “generous” and said that if she didn’t accept it and insisted on a trial, she could lose and end up paying court cost.

After a brief break to allow the parties to work on a settlement, Cinco told the court she was accepting the $20,000 offer.

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