Residents of housing block evacuated as 112 new Covid-19 cases recorded

By The SUN 

Residents of Blk 6 in Richland Estate were evacuated and moved to a quarantine center

Government health experts have again called on the public not to gather in each other’s houses to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, after residents of a residential block facing the same direction had to be evacuated because of the spread of the disease there.

A total of 112 new Covid-19 cases were reported as of midnight last night, with 102 of them being local cases and 10 imported. Among these, 68 were linked to previous infections, while 32 were of unknown sources.

More than 50 people tested preliminary positive.

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The city now has recorded a total of 7,292 cases, with 112 deaths. A 75-year-old female patient who passed away at 5:39pm yesterday in Queen Elizabeth Hospital was the latest recorded fatality.

Undersecretary for Food and Healthy Dr Chui Tak-yi said the coronavirus infection is at a “critical stage” and advised the public not to go out unless necessary, and not to meet up with friends or relatives at each other’s houses or restaurants to have a meal.

The warning was reiterated by Dr Chuang Shuk-wan, infectious disease chief at the Centre for Health Protection, who said, “please do not gather anymore at home. A lot of these cases happen among family members and friends.”

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She said 42, or nearly half of the new cases, came from family clusters.

They include another case detected at Block 6 of Richland Gardens estate in Kowloon Bay, which was ordered evacuated yesterday after a site inspection by two health experts.

Yuen (in beige) and fellow expert Wong Ka-hing think the virus spread through the sewage pipes (RTHK photo)

Seven previous infections were found among those living in units D of the housing block, prompting microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung to conclude after this morning’s inspection that the virus might have spread through the sewage pipes.

Yuen said the drainage pipes in the building were designed similarly to those in Amoy Gardens in the same district, which was the epicenter of the Sars outbreak in 2003.

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Chuang advised other residents in the Home Ownership Scheme estate to keep an eye on their U-trap drains, and to always pour bleach and cleaning agent into them to prevent the virus from spreading.

The official also said that the government was planning to impose mandatory coronavirus testing on residents if four or more unlinked cases are found in their buildings. She admitted there was no scientific basis to this, so the threshold may change depending on the overall infection rate.

She reiterated it was not safe to lock down residents if the cause of infection was from environmental factors, as what is suspected in the Richland Gardens estate.

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Among the new cases she cited were a cleaner at the Penny Bay Quarantine Center, who was related to the dance cluster; a student at a secondary school in Tsz Wan Shan and a teacher at another school in Tsing Yi. Both schools had to be closed for cleansing and some schools and teachers tested.

The linked cases included: 5 more in the Yata supermarket cluster in Shatin, which now has 10 staff who tested positive; 5 in the Lohas Park construction site, with 60 cases in all; 7 to the Tseung Kwan O –Lam Tin Tunnel, which now has 8 cases; and 3 to the AsiaWorld-Expo’s social welfare facility, with 16 cases in total.

The biggest cluster, which involved people who went to dance clubs and their family and friends, now has about 670 cases, with the addition of 6 new ones today.

Among those classified as unknown was one case involving a patient who attended Hins Cheung’s concert on Nov 29, and sat at zone 72. Several other concert-goers also tested positive earlier, but Chuang said an outbreak was not likely at this stage.

A total of 284 people who had been at the concerts were tested, and all turned up negative results. About 400 staff were likewise made to undergo testing, but only one part-time employee was found infected.

Chuang, Chui and Ho at today's press briefing

Among the 10 imported cases were three women who flew in from Indonesia. Two of them are domestic helpers; one tested positive on arrival at the airport, and the other, during the second test. The third is a female returnee who arrived on Nov 22 but was found infected only yesterday.

There were also three females from India, one domestic worker and two returnees, who all tested positive at the airport. Two were young female returnees, aged 18 and 20, who flew in from Britain; another is a male air crew from Russia; and last is a female returnee from Turkey who tested positive on the second test.

According to Chui, the last two weeks showed that the contagion remained serious. There were a total of 633 cases, and 591 of these were locally acquired. Among the local cases, 120 were untraceable, or 19% of the total number, meaning, there is still an invisible transmission chain in the community.

Dr Sara Ho, chief manager at the Hospital Authority said that as of 9am today, a total of 1,135 patients are being treated in 22 public hospitals and the AWE treatment facility. Among them, 43 are in critical condition, 59 in serious condition, while the 1,033 others are in stable condition.

Ho also reported cases that happened in three hospitals. The first involves a nurse in Yan Chai Hospital who tested preliminary positive and the second, a clerk in Tuen Mun Hospital. Neither was in close contact with patients, but the nurse’s colleagues who stayed with her in a changing room will be quarantined.

The third is a staff at Union Christian Hospital who cleaned the toilet used by a patient who later tested positive. The staff was put under quarantine, but her test results were negative. 

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Filipina DH gets 3 months for stealing clothing, Octopus cards and wallet

By Vir B. Lumicao    

The Filipina was sentenced at Eastern Court

A Filipina helper was jailed three months today, Dec 9, for admitting she stole a branded piece of clothing worth $2,000, a wallet and two Octopus cards from her employer, after prosecutors threw out allegations that she also took $18,500, four watches and a charger.

R. Sabugo, 34, pleaded guilty before Eastern Court Magistrate Bina Chainrai to an amended charge that omitted the $18,500 cash, four watches and a charger from the list of items allegedly stolen.

The prosecutor did not say why those items were stricken off.

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 The prosecution said the Filipina carried out the offense in October inside the flat of employer Duan Lin, a company director, at Upton residential tower in Kennedy Town.

Sabugo stood meekly in the dock as Magistrate Bina Chainrai pronounced the sentence, ignoring the defense lawyer’s request for a suspended sentence.

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Police arrested the defendant on Oct 11 after Duan reported that the money, which she kept in her cabinet drawer, went missing and suspected the helper had taken it. Duan also accused Sabugo of stealing four watches, a charger, the wallet and Octopus cards.

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The helper initially denied the offense, saying Duan gave her the garment. She also said the Octopus cards and wallet might have been mislaid by the employer’s child in her luggage.

It was not known whether the Octopus cards had been used, the prosecutor said.

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The defense lawyer said Sabugo, single, came to Hong Kong in 2018 to work for Duan as a helper with a monthly salary of $5,000. He said his client is single, a high school graduate and the breadwinner of her father and mother.

He said Sabugo was remorseful and admitted he committed the offense out of greed. He said the defendant is willing to compensate the employer but has no money.

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When Chainrai asked if any compensation was made, the prosecutor quickly said none.

The magistrate then sentenced Sabugo, giving her a one-third discount for her guilty plea.   

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HK posts 104 new Covid-19 cases, 1 death

By The SUN 

The elderly patient died at Queen Mary Hospital shortly after being transferred from AsiaWorld

Hong Kong health officials have reported 104 new coronavirus infections as of today, Dec 9, pushing up the total tally to 7,180.

The officials also reported the death of an 85-year-old patient at Queen Mary Hospital at 3:36 pm today, just over an hour after she was transferred from the community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo. She became Hong Kong’s 111^th fatality from the virus.

Meanwhile, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced it will close all public beaches and leisure facilities from tomorrow until further notice. The venues were reopened after an extended closure due to an uptick in coronavirus cases only about five weeks ago.

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Among those to be shut are tennis and badminton courts, all indoor sports facilities and stadiums, public libraries and museums.

Along with the announcement of today’s new infections, health officials said residents of two housing blocks hit by a number of Covid-19 cases have been told to undergo testing.

These were identified as block 8 of the Kwai Shing West Estate in Kwai Chung, and Kam Wai House at Kam Fung Court in Ma On Shan.

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Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection ruled out locking down the two buildings under a law passed only yesterday, saying that would be pointless as some residents had already left their homes.

“We don’t know if those who left have been tested, therefore we need to give mandatory testing order so people would treat this matter seriously,” she said.

Chuang ruled out sealing the two residential blocks, saying some residents might have already left

As of today, four more cases were linked to Kwai Shing West, raising the total number of infections to 22. All residents of block 8 who stayed more than two hours at the premises on Nov 18 have been told to undergo testing.

Residents of block C of  Kam Wai House, Kam Fung Court  who spent more than 2 hours in the premised on Nov 19 will also have to undergo compulsory virus testing.

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Of today’s new cases, 99 were locally acquired, and 5 were imported. A third, or 35, of the cases are of unknown source. More than 60 preliminary positive cases were also detected.

Three of the newly arrived patients were returning residents from the United Kingdom, one female and two males; while one is a sea crew who traveled from Romania, then Qatar. CHP staff say they are still checking the details of the 5^th patient.

The notable cases mentioned by Dr Chuang in today’s press briefing included 12 new infections linked to the dance group cluster, six of which were also connected to the Ho Yuk Ching Willow Lodge. There are now 690 cases in this cluster, the biggest by far.

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Another was a new case at Hall 5 of AWE where 13 employees who had looked after quarantined residents of a facility for the mentally handicapped have tested positive so far.

One more CHP staff was also found infected today, raising the number of cases there to 4.

At the Yata Supermarket in Shatin, one more employee tested positive today, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 4, and preliminary cases to 6. Staff who worked on the first and second floors of the supermarket after Nov 28 have been ordered to get themselves tested.

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One case was each detected at Pak Lok Nursing Home in San Po Kong and the Fong Shu Chuen Day Activity Centre.

Among the unlinked cases, one worked on the third floor of the Jockey Club Tuen Mun Home for the Aged Blind, and three of his colleagues and 13 residents will have to be tested.

Another was a nurse who worked at the privately-run Obstetrics and Gynecology Centre in Central. Her close contacts will be quarantined.

Also among them is a staff member of Chi Lin Nunnery Home for the Elderly in Diamond Hill who was found infected from mandatory testing. She mainly worked on the third floor, where staff looked for the elderly residents.  Three employees and five residents need to undergo testing, while sample bottles have been distributed to others in the care home.

Among the preliminary cases were five steel fixers at a construction site at the Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel. Six of their fellow workers at the site have been told to undergo testing.

Another was a patient at Prince of Wales hospital who was admitted on Nov 31 for diarrhea and low blood pressure. He earlier tested negative for the virus, but was found preliminary positive on Dec 8.

Ten other patients who were listed as his close contacts had tested negative. Six others who stayed in the ward with him are now being trace. Several family members of the patients have also been classified as close contacts and will be quarantined.

Meanwhile, Dr Sara Ho, a chief manager at the Hospital Authority said that as of 9am today, 1,149 confirmed patients were being treated in 22 public hospitals and the AWE facility. Among them, 39 are in critical condition, 58 in serious condition, and 1,052 are stable.

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Indonesian DH held after dead baby found in box

By The SUN 

The dead baby was found in a flat in this housing estate in Sai Wan Ho

The police have arrested a 24-year-old Indonesian domestic worker after the body of a newborn baby boy was found in a plastic box in a flat in Sai Wan Ho.

A police spokeswoman said officers were called at 9pm last night, Dec 8, after the baby was found inside the box in the kitchen of a flat in Tung Hei Court at 38 Yiu Hing Road.

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The infant, still attached to its umbilical cord, was certified dead at the scene.

The domestic worker was taken to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan for a medical check-up, but has since been released.

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The spokeswoman said the woman is now being detained pending the verification of the baby’s cause of death.

Meantime, the case has been classified as “concealing the birth of a child (pending).” 

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Star Ferry fares set to rise 30-50 cents in February

By The SUN 

The iconic Star Ferry is the cheapest public transport in HK

Star Ferry fares on the Central-Tsim Sha Tsui and Wanchai-TST services will increase $0.30 to $0.50 starting Feb 9 next year as the ferry operator tries to recoup losses due to the drop in revenue and rise in operating costs, the government said on Tuesday, Dec 8.

The new adult fares Monday to Friday on the Central-TST route will rise from $2.70 to $3.20 on the upper deck and $2.20 to $2.60 on the lower deck.

On Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, the adult fare will rise from $3.70 to $4.20 on the upper deck and from $3.10 to $3.60 on the lower deck.

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Fares for children 3-12 years old and persons with disabilities will increase from $1.60 to be $1.90 on the upper deck and from $1.50 to $1.80 on the lower deck on weekdays.

The fares will rise from $2.20 to $2.50 for the upper deck and from $2.10 to $2.40 on the lower deck on weekends and public holidays.

Adult fares on the Wanchai-TST route will rise from $2.70 to $3.20 Monday to Friday and from $3.70 to $4.20 on weekends and public holidays.

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For children and PWDs, fares will increase from $1.60 to $1.90 weekdays and from $2.20 to $2.50 on weekends and public holidays. 

Children under 3 years old and passengers above 65 years old will still be free.

The monthly ticket on both the Central-TST and Wanchai-TST routes will rise to $160 from $135 and the tourist ticket will go up to $32 from $27.50. 

Bicycle fares on the Wanchai-TST route will rise from $14 to $16.

Some of the ferries in the fleet are now painted different colours

The fare increase was approved Tuesday by the Chief Executive in Council, the government said in a press release. The approval came more than 18 months after Star Ferry Company Ltd applied for fare hikes in April last year.

The government said it had taken into account all factors, including the financial position of Star Ferry; forecasts of changes in operating costs, revenue and return, as well as past performance of the operator in providing ferry services.

Public acceptability of the proposed fares and measures implemented by the ferry operator to save costs and generate additional revenue were considered by the government before approving the new fares, a spokesman said.

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“Star Ferry has suffered losses since 2018. As Star Ferry is a transport mode much preferred by visitors, in the fallout of public order events and the Covid-19 pandemic, its patronage and, thus, fare box revenue dropped significantly in 2019 and 2020, and would unlikely return to the previous level in the short to medium run,” he said.

Since the last fare increase in July 2017, Star Ferry’s operating costs have been on a continuous rise, he said.

In view of the uncertain economic situation, the company’s non-farebox revenue (including rental and advertising income) could not be guaranteed. Therefore, there is a need for Star Ferry to adjust its fare, the spokesman said.

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The amendment will be tabled at the Legislative Council on Dec 16 for approval. Upon completion of the procedures, the new fares will take effect from Feb 9, 2021.

The government consulted the Legislative Council Panel on Transport on Dec 20, 2019, and the Transport Advisory Committee on Jan 21, 2020, on Star Ferry’s application for fare increases.

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HK people told to stop partying at home as 100 Covid-19 cases reported

By Daisy C L Mandap

Chan says HK people must avoid dining at each other's homes to prevent the spread of the virus

The Hong Kong government has, for the first time, advised people to avoid going to each other’s homes over the Christmas holidays to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Health Secretary, Dr Sophia Chan, issued the call today, Dec 8, as she announced the enactment of tougher anti-virus restrictions.

“We would (also) appeal to people not to cross families because this again would increase the risk of transmitting the disease, since someone may carry the virus, given that there are many asymptomatic cases,” she said.

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Shortly after she issued the appeal, the Centre for Health Protection reported that there were 100 new Covid-19 cases reported as of midnight last night. 

Ninety-five of the cases were locally acquired, and five were imported. Of the local cases, 68 were linked to previous infections, mostly from clusters that developed in various districts; while 27 had unknown sources.

Dr Chan gave details of the more stringent gathering rules announced in the morning by Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

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These include limiting dine-in services at restaurants to not later than 6pm, allowing no more than two people to dine together, and filling venues to only up to 50% of their capacity. The new rules will take effect from Thursday and last 14 days.

A new law that gives government the power to seal off premises hit by the virus until the test results on affected people had come out, was also approved during the Executive Council session today.

Together with the power to impose mandatory testing on people in high-risk groups, this new rule will allow government to confine residents in infected buildings to their homes until after those with the virus had been identified for isolation.

 

Kwai Shing West estate could have been locked down if the virus spread was extensive

CE Lam had said earlier such power could have been used to stop some residents of Kwai Shing West from leaving their homes before the test results on those in the affected floors had been completed.

But asked during the press briefing on the latest coronavirus situation in the city on whether a lockdown of the entire public estate was being considered, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection said no.

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“The government said if the test results (of affected residents) were not satisfactory, we can lock down the estate, but the results had been satisfactory,” she said.

Of the 1,300 tests conducted among residents, Dr Chuang said only five positive results had come out, although there were “a number” of preliminary positive cases. This group accounts for 18 cases so far.

The biggest cluster is still by far those from the dance venues, where 13 more cases were added today, making a total of 660 so far.

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Another outbreak that's causing concern is the one involving staff at Halls 5 and 7 of AsiaWorld-Expo, who are tasked with looking after residents of a care home for mentally handicapped patients, who had been quarantined at the facility.

Nine more staff were found infected today, raising to 12 the total number of infections uncovered since yesterday. About 80 other staff had to be put under quarantine as soon as  the first cases arose.

Chuang said the quarantined residents could be difficult to control, and many take off their masks in the presence of staff.

“It’s difficult for staff to handle them, because they may not be very cooperative and most of them eventually become infected,” said Chuang.

“Just like in the other residential care  homes in Hong Kong or the disabled homes, when there’s an outbreak, you’ll find lots of staff as well as residents being infected.”

Chuang says AWE staff had difficulty handling the mentally disabled patients 

The other cluster-related cases include 2 from the construction site in Lohas Park, which now has 52 cases in all; 2 more from the Fong Shu Chuen Day Activity Centre, making a total of 60 cases; and three more from the Yata Supermarket, along with 7 preliminary cases.

The five imported cases were made up of a female air crew member who flew in from the United States, a male sea crew from Russia, two male returnees from the United Kingdom, and a Pakistani man who tested positive in a quarantine centre.

Dr Sara Ho, a chief manager of the Hospital Authority, said 71 patients had been discharged from hospital as of 9am today, raising the number of recoveries to 5,696.

There are still 1,135 patients confined at 22 public hospitals and the AWE treatment facility. Among these, 38 are in critical condition, 46 are seriously ill, and 1,051 are in stable condition.

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