PHL reports 19 new coronavirus cases with UK variant

By The SUN

There are now 44 patients in the Philippines with the coronavirus variant (File)

Philippine health officials have reported 19 more coronavirus patients were found to have the United Kingdom (or British) variant, including the mother of a staff of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)3.

The new cases brought the number of cases with the more infectious strain to 44, but Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual briefing today, Feb. 15, that there is not yet enough evidence to say that there is community transmission of the variant.

“The samples that we get are still not at that level na masasabi natin that it can already provide us with that predictive factor for community transmission,” she said.

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Vergeire identified the MRT-linked case as a 46-year-old female resident of Pasay City whose child works at the rail company.

She tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on January 25 and is currently under home quarantine.

Last month, the Department of Transportation said the MRT-3 Depot was placed under “enhanced access control” after 42 personnel tested positive for COVID-19. 

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The Department of Health today also verified the information about five previously identified cases with the UK variant, who are all now under isolation. They include:

1)      - A 20-year-old female from Mountain Province who tested positive for Covid-19 in Metro Manila on Jan 12 as part of pre-departure screening for overseas workers. She has since returned to her hometown.

2)      - A 37-year-old man living in Bukidnon who spent long periods of time in Metro Manila for training. He tested positive for Covid-19 on Jan 25.

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3)     -  A 25-year-old female resident of Dasmariñas, Cavite who was found infected on Jan 31.

4)     -  A 47-year-old OFW living in Las Piñas who returned to the Philippines from Morocco on Jan. 12. She completed a 10-day isolation upon her arrival but was advised to continue her quarantine after her second swab test came back positive for the coronavirus.

5)     -  A 49-year-old man with an address in Rizal. The DOH is yet to confirm whether he is a local or a returning OFW.

Where the 44 cases with the variant are located (PTV 4)

Vergeire also said 107 close contacts of the 19 patients who are in Davao, 12 in Mountain Province, and 50 in Ilocos Norte have so far been traced.

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Vergeire said some samples from distant places have yet to be delivered to the Philippine Genome Center for genome sequencing to detect the presence of the variant because of logistical problems.

The DOH is coordinating with the Office of Civil Defense to ensure that the samples could be included in the succeeding batches of genome sequencing.

During the briefing, Vergeire also said no restrictions for travelers from countries with the UK variant will be imposed soon.

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“It was agreed on and recommended also by experts that we cannot remain to be isolated nang matagal from the rest of the world. Marami po tayong sina-sacrifice ‘pag nagre-restrictions tayo na ganito,” she said.

But she assured the public that the government has put safeguards to keep the infection at bay.

“If we can maintain our cases to just this manageable level, itong pagkalat ng transmission na ito ay mapipigilan din natin,” Vergeire said.

As of the latest tally, The Philippines has a total of 549, 176 Covid-19 cases, with 511,743 recoveries and 11,515 deaths. Among the active cases, 86% have only mild symptoms.

 

 

New Covid-19 cases dip to 9, including Filipina DH with British variant

By The SUN 

The Filipina DH tested positive for the coronavirus variant on arrival from Manila Saturday,

For the first time since November last year, the number of new Covid-19 cases dropped to single digits, and less than half of them were locally acquired.

Dr Albert Au from the Centre for Health Protection said in the daily press briefing today, Feb 15, that there were nine new infections, consisting of five imported and four local cases, of which three were of unknown sources.

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Among the imported cases was a Filipina domestic worker who was found to have the more infectious N501Y strain of the coronavirus first detected in Britain. The 25-year-old Filipina arrived on Feb 13 from Manila on board Philippine Airlines flight PR 300 and tested positive at Hong Kong airport.

Dr Au said she is among 10 confirmed patients found to have brought in this variant from abroad. Yesterday, a flight attendant who tested positive on arrival from Turkey, was also found to carry the mutant strain.

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Two of the imported cases were both Indonesian domestic workers who arrived on different dates. The first is 28 years old and arrived on Jan 27, meaning she would have tested positive on her third test while in quarantine. The second, who is 44 years old, tested positive on her arrival at the airport on Feb 13.

The two others were also found infected on their arrival on Feb 13. One is a 36-year-oldmale returnee from Poland, and the other is a 56-year-old male seafarer who arrived from India via Dubai.

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The total number of cases in Hong Kong has reached 10,789, with 186 related deaths. A total of 348 confirmed patients are being treated in 23 public hospitals and the treatment facility in AsiaWorld Expo. They consist of 21 patients in critical condition, 11 serious, and 310 in stable condition.

Fewer than 10 preliminary positive cases were detected, and three of them were of unknown sources.

They included a 39-year-old housewife in Diamond Hill, a staff at the Kwai Chung Fire Department, and an 8-year-old school girl in Shek Lei estate who lives next to a flat with a confirmed patient.

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The three confirmed cases with unknown sources included a 79-year-old female retiree who lives in a building in Ma Tau Wai that was listed under compulsory testing on Feb 11. Five patients living in three different units in the building have been detected.

Another confirmed case whose source could not be traced was a 34-year-old man who works as a baker in Balencia bakey in Yata Department Store in Tuen Mun; and a clerk at a law firm on Queen’s Road Central who lives in Heng Fa Chuen, Chai Wan.

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The only linked case is a Tsuen Wan resident whose family member had tested positive for the virus earlier.

Lam warns cases may spike again after the long holiday

CHP Controller Dr Ronald Lam acknowledged the significant drop in cases, but warned against complacency, saying there could be infections that were not reported immediately because of the Lunar New Year holiday.

He said that previously, the number of cases had gone up significantly after a long holiday. In the past two weeks, he pointed out that about 90% of all infections were acquired locally, and 30% of these were of unknown sources, indicating there is still a lot of hidden transmissions going on.

Lam advised those returning to work tomorrow to stay vigilant and maintain personal hygiene. They should wear masks when using common facilities, and must immediately put them back on after eating.

Shared facilities such as meeting rooms and the pantry should be disinfected regularly.

FDH being chased for P40k overpayment in her remittance

By Daisy CL Mandap 

The Filipina helper sent money through Western Union in World-Wide House in Central

A Filipina domestic helper is being sought by remittance company Western Union, after one of its tellers mistakenly sent USD1,000 to her recipient in the Philippines, instead of the HK$1,000 that she had ordered and paid for.

S. Cayabyab, who lives in Tai Koo Shing and is from Pangasinan, went to the WE branch on the first floor of WorldWide House at about 1pm on Dec 20 last year, and asked to send HK$1,000 money to one J. C. Ostil in Pangasinan.

The teller at the branch mistakenly sent US$1,000 to Cayabyab’s recipient, which amounted to Php46,411.64 instead of the Php6,000 which was the conversion of the HK$1,000 that the helper had paid for.

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WU staff Precy Bermejo told The SUN that they learned about the mistake that same evening, but Ostil had already taken out the money.

Bermejo showed a text message she sent to Cayabyab at 6:15pm that same day, telling the customer that they had just learned about the mistake, and that they had called her several times, but she was not picking up.

“This is from Western Union WorldWide. It has come to our attention that there is a mistake in your remittance. Kindly cooperate with us. We’ve tried to contact you many times, but seems you’re not answering our call. Please reply before we do an action regarding this matter,” said Bermejo in her text.

Cayabyab's remittance receipt showing the equivalent of US1k
instead of HK$1k was sent to her recipient in the Philippines

She got no reply that same day, so she sent a reminder the next day.

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Cayabyab then responded, saying: “Sad to day madam, bakit kailangan magbayad nong bata ng charge kaya kayo po ang tumawag sa Western doon.” (Sad to say, why is the kid being asked to pay a charge, so please just call Western Union there yourself)

Bermejo replied with an assurance that the recipient need not pay any charge if he sent back the overpayment. As an incentive, she told Cayabyab that they would accept a reduced amount of Php39,900. She also appealed to Cayabyab's sense of fairness and compassion, saying the teller, who is married and has three kids, would be asked to cover the overpayment.

After several more exchanges, Cayabyab said: “Hello po, nag message na ako kanina na send na lang nya po lahat yung 39,900 pero wala pa pong reply.” (Hello, I’ve already sent him a message earlier today, telling him to pay back the P39,900 but I have yet to get a reply).

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But she went quiet after that. When she next responded to Bermejo’s repeated requests for updates, Cayabyab already sounded indignant, saying things like she was not aware that there had been mispayment to her beneficiary, that if the company did not call her she would not have learned about the mistake, and all she did was give the control number to Ostil.

She also said that because her recipient was asked to pay a charge for sending back the mispayment he lost interest and cut off all contacts with her.

“Paabutin nyo saan nyo gusto, wala ako magagawa dahil hindi ko nga makontak ang tao…Doon kayo sa Western sa Pangasinan tumawag.” (Bring this case wherever you want, I can’t do anything because I cannot contact the person anymore. Go call Western (Union) in Pangasinan)

Bermejo sent a picture of Cayabyab taken from her Facebook account, and added a warning that the case would be reported to the police, to which the customer replied:

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“Kahit ito pa ang picture mo anong magagawa ko…Nasa akin ba ang pera..Sinabi ko na sa inyo kayo ang tumawag doon…May trabaho ako …Pa wanted mo ako.” (Whatever picture you have, what can I do? Is the money with me? I already told you that you be the one to call them there (Western Pangasinan. I am busy with work. Go ahead and put me on the wanted list).

Cayabyab appears to have taken down her Facebook account since. An account in the name of her recipient is still active, and lists down several Cayabyabs among his friends, indicating they could be relatives. But the helper would not disclose their relationship, and would only refer to the recipient as “yung bata.” (the kid).

The SUN also tried to reach Cayabyab by phone, but she did not pick up the calls. 

In relating the story, Bermejo said her company wants Cayabyab to just get the money back to them. Otherwise, they will go to the police  to file a complaint against her.

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“We have given her the chance (to set it right),” said Bermejo.

She also said that she made the same mistake in the past, when she issued a receipt for a remittance of HK$6,000 instead of the Php6,000 that the customer had paid for. The money went through, but the recipient in the Philippines, a son of the customer, immediately called up his mother to ask about the discrepancy. Informed about this, Bermejo said she asked their Philippine branch to reverse the remittance order, and just issued a new one for the correct amount.

"Kaya nga kung talagang honest naman ang customer, dapat ibalik na lang ang pera kasi hindi naman maiwasan ang ganitong pagkakamali, lalo at maraming tao," she said. (If the customer is honest, she should just return the money because mistakes like this are unavoidable, especially when there are a lot of people around).

Under Hong Kong’s Theft Ordinance (Cap 210), appropriating something that resulted from somebody's mistake could be regarded as theft.

The relevant provision says, “where a person gets property by another’s mistake, and is under an obligation to make restoration….an intention not to make restoration shall be regarded accordingly as an intention to deprive that person of the property or proceeds.”

Theft is punishable under Hong Kong’s laws by imprisonment for up to 10 years.

 

 

 

 

 

HK on target to get first Covid-10 vaccine end of Feb

By The SUN

Nip says the vaccination will start in early March

Hong Kong remains on track to receive its first batch of one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine BioNTech by the end of this month, and the inoculation will begin by early March.

This was disclosed by Civil Service Secretary Patrick Nip in a television show this morning, Feb. 14. He said the government had already completed a trial run from storage and transportation to actual vaccination, to ensure a safe and orderly kickoff.

A least one Community Vaccination Centre will be set up in each of the 18 districts, with those having a bigger population likely to get more than one, said Nip.

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First on the priority list for the vaccine are residents and staff in care homes, followed by other medical frontliners and seniors aged 60 and above, then those aged 16-59 with existing medical conditions.

Meanwhile, health officials reported 12 new Covid-19 cases during the daily press briefing today, Feb 14, the same number as yesterday.

The new cases, consisting of five men and seven women, brought to 10,780 the total coronavirus tally in Hong Kong since Jan 23 last year.

There are now 5 cases linked to the Mirador cluster

They include three more positive cases found at Mirador Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui. The three, who are all mainland women, live in the same unit on the 10^th floor of the building. They are said to be friends with another patient in the building who was found infected on Friday.

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The four mainlanders have also been in contact with another patient who live in nearby Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion who tested positive yesterday.

Initially, health officials had described them as holders of recognizance papers.

Also among today’s cases is a 46-year-old unemployed man on recognizance who tested positive during compulsory testing. He lives in a subdivided flat at 267, To Kwa Wan Road, Kowloon City.

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Dr. Albert Au from the Centre for Health Protection said two of the new cases were imported. Of the 10 local cases, four were found in community testing centers and mobile stations. Seven were linked to previous cases while three were of unknown sources.

He said the two imported cases were an Albanian air crew who arrived from Turkey on Feb and tested positive at the airport, and an Indonesian domestic helper who was found infected on her 12^th day in quarantine.

Among the untraceable cases is a 35-year-old hairstylist at RTHK who has serviced studio staff and guests, including those who appeared on TV.

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Au said the man last worked on Feb 11 and exhibited upper respiratory tract symptom. He went to a community testing center on Feb 12 and was confirmed positive yesterday.

More than 20 other staff and guests at RTHK who were at the workplace during the incubation period have been listed as close contacts and will be quarantined.

The man lives on Fubo block in Saddle Ridge Garden, Ma On Shan, prompting the CHP to list the building for compulsory testing.

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Another case with unknown source was a 32-year-old female clerk in a Yuen Long company. More than 10 of her co-employees were listed as close contacts and will be quarantined.

She lives in Block 1, Po Sing Centre, Shek Lei Kwai Chung, which has now been added to the compulsory testing list.

Dr Lau Ka-hin from the Hospital Authority said 359 confirmed patients are confined in 23 public hospitals and the treatment facility at AsiaWorld Expo. They include 21 who are in critical condition, 17 in serious condition and 321 in stable condition.

Dr Tsui Tak-yi, Undersecretary for Food and Health, said a total of 368 cases had been recorded in the past 14 days. from Jan 31 to Feb 13. These include 320 local cases of which 101 are from unknown sources.

 

Musicians on relief drive get caught in compulsory testing

 By Daisy CL Mandap 

Volunteer musicians help pack and distribute relief goods sourced by MJM 

A group of Filipino musicians packing and distributing relief goods for colleagues hard-hit by the pandemic got caught in a mandatory testing order for residents and guests of Mirador Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui, issued on Saturday, Feb 12.

This was after a 42-year-old woman on recognizance residing in the building, where a unit owned by the Hong Kong Musicians Union is located, was confirmed to have Covid-19 that same day.

In line with the government’s stepped-up infection control measures, that single case automatically made everyone who had stayed for at least two hours in Mirador Mansion two weeks prior, or from Jan 30 to Feb 12, fall under the compulsory testing order.

Among those covered by the order were several musician-volunteers who distributed relief packs that same day to colleagues who had been left mostly jobless by the recurring ban on live music in Hong Kong. Days earlier they were also at the HKMU office in the building, packing the food aid.

The donated food items were coursed through MJM, which stands for Maricel Bedana, Jennifer Palor-Fernandes and Marlyn Ayson-Hazelton, who formed a community of volunteers conducting food drive and raising funds for their fellow musicians in need.

Palor-Fernandes said the food distribution was the fourth to be carried out by MJM and fellow volunteers, who have so far extended help to around 300 mostly Filipino musicians. 

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The donation drive which started on Jan 25, was initially aimed at helping a group of young band members living in Wanchai, many of whom were stricken down by the coronavirus between March and April last year.

The band members have been mostly without work since. Although they are still allowed to live in the company-leased flat, they are provided with only a meal each day.

Dynamic trio of Bedana, Fernandez and Hazelton is behind the relief effort

After MJM started a food drive for them, many more donors have reportedly stepped forward to help, so other out-of-job musicians, including those with permanency residency, have been given help.

Palor-Fernandes said everyone who had been to Mirador for their relief effort has either undergone testing, or will do so in the next few days. All those covered by the testing order have until Tuesday, Feb 16, to comply. 

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Among those who went for a test was HKMU chairperson Manuela Lo, who had been in and out of Mirador during the indicated period, doing work for the Union and overseeing rehearsals for a fund-raising project for musicians sidelined by the pandemic restrictions.

“I’ve already informed everyone to take the test, I just did mine this morning…waiting for the result,” said Lo on Saturday, Feb 13.

She added no one lives in the HKMU unit in the building. 

Lo (center) with POLO officers led by Labour Attache Mel Dizon (left)

Earlier, HKMU conducted a separate relief effort for non-resident musicians with help from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

The band members living in Wanchai were also among the beneficiaries. Lo said the musicians who came here as contract workers, have largely been on a “no work, no pay” situation since Covid-19 swept across bars in Hong Kong and Kowloon early last year.

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After the Lunar New Year holidays, the government is expected to reopen venues that had been shut since mid-December, after the number of coronavirus cases in the city shot up to record numbers.

But that gives little comfort to Lo and her fellow musicians, as bars, which are always the first to be shut, are again the last to be reopened when the restrictions are eased.

Since the restaurant dine-in house will only be extended up to 10pm from the current 6pm, bars and other venues where musicians are part of the staple fare, could remain grounded. And even if the bars are reopened, the question of when live music would be brought back is another matter. 

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The fund-raising campaign, which kicks off at the end of the month, is meant to continue extending help to jobless musicians.

“This February 27 and 28 we are organizing an online fundraiser for musicians in need and they will be aired through the HKMU Facebook page, YouTube Channel, and supporting media outlets. The event will run for at least six months, in a series of episode, until our musicians, artists and entertainers can work again,” said Lo in a solicitation letter.

The government has issued the following advisory for those who are subject to compulsory Covid-19 tests:

The Government will set up mobile specimen collection stations at Shek Ku Lung Road Playground in Wong Tai Sin and Kwong Fuk Estate in Tai Po on Feb 13. The service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at Kwun Chung Sports Centre in Jordan and MacPherson Playground in Mong Kok will be extended to Feb 16 (Tuesday).

Apart from mobile specimen collection stations, persons subject to compulsory testing can also choose to attend any of the community testing centres in all districts to receive testing free of charge.
Persons subject to compulsory testing may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:
1. To visit any of the mobile specimen collection stations (see the list and target groups (if applicable) at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) for testing;
2. To attend any of the community testing centres (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/);
3. To obtain a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from any of the 121 post offices, vending machines set up at 20 MTR stations or 47 designated general outpatient clinics (GOPCs) of the Hospital Authority and return the specimen to one of the designated specimen collection points (see the distribution points and times, and the specimen collection points and times, at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html);
4. To undergo testing at any of the GOPCs of the Hospital Authority as instructed by a medical professional of the Hospital Authority;
5. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the Department of Health (DH) and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf);or
6. To use a specimen bottle distributed to the relevant specified premises by the Centre for Health Protection (if applicable), and return the specimen bottle with the sample collected as per relevant guidelines. 

A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau cautioned that testing received at accident and emergency departments of the Hospital Authority or during hospital stays, or testing provided by private laboratories which cannot issue SMS notifications in respect of test results, does not comply with the requirements of the aforementioned compulsory testing notice.
     "If persons subject to compulsory testing have symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately and undergo testing as instructed by a medical professional. They should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or the community testing centres."
Persons subject to compulsory testing must keep the SMS notification containing result of the test for checking by a law enforcement officer when the officer requires the persons to provide information about their undergoing the specified test.
Furthermore, persons subject to testing under the compulsory testing notices should, as far as reasonably practicable, take appropriate personal disease prevention measures including wearing a mask and maintaining hand hygiene, and, unless for the purpose of undergoing the specified test, stay at their place of residence and avoid going out until the test result is ascertained as far as possible.
Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be addressed to the hotline at 6275 6901, which operates daily from 9am to 6pm. If persons subject to compulsory testing plan to conduct testing at any of the community testing centres, they can check the centre's appointment status in advance. The hotlines of the community testing centres are available at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/info/.
The Government will continue to trace possibly infected persons who had been to the relevant premises, and seriously verify whether they had complied with the testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.   

Relevant officers of different government departments are empowered to perform certain functions under the relevant Regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), including requesting individuals to provide information and assistance when necessary. Any person who fails to comply with the relevant request commits an offence and would be liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000). Collection and use of any personal data for conducting COVID-19 tests must meet the requirements under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486). Government departments or testing service providers which handle the relevant information may provide the data to DH or other relevant departments for anti-epidemic purpose as necessary. The workflow does not involve the provision of any personal data to organisations or persons outside Hong Kong.
The spokesman said, "The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or contacted confirmed cases), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons."

Mirador Mansion infection nets two foreigners on recognizance

By The SUN

The three cases found in Mirador Mansion so far are said to be friends 

Two women who are on recognizance and are living in Mirador Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui have tested preliminary positive for Covid-19, a day after their friend who lives in the building was found infected.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said in today’s press briefing that the two women were friends with the 42-year-old female resident of Mirador Mansion who tested positive for the coronavirus yesterday.

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The three are also friends with a 36-year-old woman who lives in nearby Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion, who was among 12 new coronavirus cases confirmed today.

Residents and visitors who were at Mirador Mansion for the past week until Feb 12 were ordered to undergo testing yesterday, while the same order was issued today for those living in Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion.

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The order covered a group of Filipino musicians who had spent several hours on Friday in the office of Hong Kong Musicians Union, packing relief goods for some of their colleagues in distress.

Chuang said the first case in Mirador Mansion arrived from Malaysia in May last year. The first preliminary case arrived in October last year, and the second, in July last year.

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She said she did not know why the three held recognizance papers, which are usually issued by Immigration Department to foreigners who could not be removed within a reasonable period of time.

All residents of sub-divided flats in the building have been evacuated and moved to quarantine centers as a result of the infections.

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Of the 12 new cases, two are imported, including a 29-year-old Filipina domestic helper who arrived on Jan 30 and tested positive on her 12^th day in quarantine at iclub Hotel in Tokwawan.

The other is a 67-year-old male resident who also arrived on Jan 30 from United Arab Emirates and tested positive on his second test while in quarantine at Hotel Indigo in Wan Chai.

Dr Chan says local people may be hesitant to see a doctor during the new year 

Director of Health Dr Constance Chan said that while there’s been a marked decline in the number of new cases, it could be the result of most private clinics being closed for the holidays and local people’s belief that “it’s unlucky to see a doctor during Chinese New Year.”

She appealed to everyone to disregard this thinking and seek medical help immediately as soon as they experience any of the symptoms of Covid-19, like a cough, itchy throat, fever, loss of sense of taste and smell.

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“If people have any mild symptoms, however mild, they must see a doctor as soon as possible to exclude Covid-19,” she said. “They must not wait after the holidays.”

She thanked those who followed the advice to refrain from holding large family gatherings and reiterated that if they wanted to see relatives for the traditional get-togethers, they should wear masks at all times and refrain from dining together.

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Chuang said there were two cases with unknown sources, including a welfare worker who attended group discussions at a boys and girls club in Tsz Wan Shan.

Since there has been a preliminary case involving another participant in the meetings, about a dozens of staff, volunteers and participants a the club will be sent to quarantine.

Including this case and the two women on recognizance, there were fewer than 10 preliminary positive cases, said Chuang.

Meanwhile, another confirmed patient passed away today, bringing the death toll in public hospitals to 187. The 60-year-old male patient had been in intensive care at Princess Margaret Hospital since Jan 2.

A total of 372 confirmed patients are being treated in 23 public hospitals and the treatment facility at AsiaWorld Expo. They include 21 who are in critical condition, 17 in serious condition, and 334 who are stable.