HK to review gym restrictions after Covid-19 cases in Ursus balloon to 50

By Daisy C L Mandap 

17 confirmed and more than 30 preliminary cases are linked to Ursus Fitness in Sai Ying Pun

Health authorities say they will review anti-gathering restrictions in gyms after a coronavirus cluster in a popular fitness centre in Sai Ying Pun appears to have grown to  more than 50 cases.

According to Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection, 16 of the 19 new local cases of Covid-19 recorded today, Mar 11, were linked to Ursus Fitness, where one trainer tested positive earlier.

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Of the 17 confirmed cases, six are said to be staff members and 10 are customers.

More than 30 preliminary positive cases have also been traced to this cluster, mostly customers and their close contacts, so the total number of infections could grow to more than 50, she said.

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“Altogether we may have more than 50 staff and clients affected,” she said.

At least 240 people who visited the fitness centre from Mar 1 to 9 will be moved to quarantine centers.

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Undersecretary for Food & Health Chui Tak-yi said the government will consider tightening anti-virus restrictions in gyms as a result.

“While we are in the process of evaluating or reviewing the social distancing measures in the next cycle, we will consider whether, or how, to tighten restrictions in these particular type of premises,” he said.

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Ursus Fitness was shut yesterday after the cluster emerged, and CHP experts went there to take environmental samples. But all the 20 samples they took tested negative for the virus, said Chuang.

She said all 10 staff at the gym worked on the same day and had the same classes, and some did not wear masks during the intense workout. Some of the coaches also worked in other gyms, raising the possibility of the cluster growing further.

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Among today’s confirmed cases linked to the gym is a teacher at the French International School in Tseung Kwan O, so the school needs to close for disinfection, says Chuang.

She did not mention any other school linked to the outbreak, but some media reports say nine schools have suspended classes as a result. At least three cited the Ursus infections as reason.

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A number of residential blocks, many in upmarket Mid-Levels and Pokfulam where the infected patients live, have been placed under compulsory testing orders today because of the outbreak.

They include May Tower, Yukon Court, Bon-Point, Golden Phonenix, Kam-Ning Mansion, Po Lam Court, Bonham Mansion, Cape Mansions, The Belcher’s Tower, and Bishop Lei Hotel.

The other residences placed under mandatory testing are Le Sommet and Maylun Apartments in North Point, Village Terrace in Wanchai, Yip Cheong Building in Shek Tong Tsui, 293 and 345 Queen’s Road West in Sai Yung Pun, and Fu Chak House in Sham Shui Po.

22 cases were reported by health officials, 19 of them local

Meanwhile, three imported cases were also reported, rounding off the day’s tally to 22.

They included two Indonesian domestic helpers who tested positive on their 12^th day in hotel quarantine, and a flight attendant who came from Belgium, and was found to have the more infectious coronavirus variant.

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The three untraceable cases included a retiree, a housewife and a dishwasher in a Sham Shui Po restaurant.

Hong Kong’s total Covid-19 tally is now 11,151, but only 200 confirmed patients are still in public hospitals and the treatment facilities in AsiaWorld-Expo and North Lantau District Hospital.

Of these, 13 are in critical condition, 12 are seriously ill, and 175 are stable.

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Coronavirus outbreak reported in Sai Ying Pun gym

By The SUN 

Ursus gym says it has been closed since noon yesterday 

One confirmed and nine preliminary positive cases were reported today, Mar 10, from Ursus Fitness gym, located on Pokfulam Road in Sai Ying Pun.

The infections were reported by the Centre for Health Protection in a press release issued to report eight new Covid-19 cases in the city, which brought the total number of cases to 11,029.

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Of the new cases, two are imported, and both are foreign domestic workers from the Philippines.

The first one, who is 26 years old, arrived in Hong Kong on Feb 16 and tested positive on her 19^th day in quarantine at iclub Hotel in Tokwawan. The second is 41 years old and arrived on Feb 25. She was found infected on her 12^th day in quarantine at Dorsett Mongkok Hotel in Tai Kok Tsui.

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The six local cases were made up of three with unknown sources, and three linked to previous infections.

Among the unknown cases is a 27-year-old man who is a fitness trainer at Ursus gym. He was asymptomatic but a specimen sample he gave tested positive on Mar 8.

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The CHP said in its statement that nine preliminary positive cases were also found among staff and customers of the gym, which is located at Units 2-4, ground floor, 64-68 Pok Fu Lam Road, Sai Ying Pun.

“The CHP is proactively following up to investigate whether the infections of the cases are related, so as to stop the potential risk of further spread of the virus,” said the statement.

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“The CHP appeals to those who visited Ursus Fitness from March 1 to 10 to call the CHP's hotlines 2125 1111 or 2125 1122 as soon as possible to facilitate the CHP's epidemiological investigations and contact tracing.”

Ursus Fitness says on its Facebook page that it has been closed since 12 noon yesterday, and that it is awaiting further talks with CHP. 

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The post also says all of the gym's staff have been taken to government quarantine centres. Five have tested positive and are in hospital. One of its clients had also reported testing positive.

Another untraceable case is that of a 26-year-old man who works as a project assistant at a facility for mentally disabled people in Kwun Tong. He developed a fever on Feb 21 but tested negative for the coronavirus initially, but because of persistent symptoms he was admitted for treatment at United Christian Hospital on Mar 3. Still, he was found infected only yesterday.

The patient at United Christian was found infected only after repeated tests

The third case involves a 58-year-old man who works as management personnel in a Tai Po laboratory. He last went to work on Mar. 5.

According to CHP, a total of 224 cases have been recorded in the past 14 days, or from Feb 24 to Mar 9, including 171 local cases of which 59 are from unknown sources. This indicates that the silent transmission of the virus in the community remains significant.

The CHP says it is continuing its investigations and contact tracing on the confirmed cases, and reminded those who had visited venues placed under a mandatory testing order to get themselves tested. Those with symptoms should seek medical attention early.

Anyone who wants to get more information on Covid-19, the StayHomeSafe mobile app and wristband  may access the government Helpline on WhatsApp, 9617 1823, or by clicking the link wa.me/85296171823?text=hi.

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21 new Covid-19 cases recorded, more than half imported

By Daisy CL Mandap

13 imported cases were reported, 7 of them with the mutated coronavirus

A spike in the number of people flying into Hong Kong with Covid-19 was recorded today, Mar 9.

Out of the 21 new cases reported, 13 were deemed imported, with the patients coming from various countries, and all but two testing positive while in hotel quarantine.

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Four of the imported cases flew in from Pakistan, three from the Philippines, and one each from Singapore, Turkey, Canada, Nigeria, Belgium and the United Arab Emirates.

Asked about the unusual increase in the number of people deemed to have brought the virus into Hong Kong, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection said, “It is difficult to explain because they came from different places.”

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But, she added, “I think it’s related to the outbreak situation in the place where they came from.”

This view is supported by what is happening in the Philippines, at least. Over the past several days the number of new coronavirus cases in the country has gone up to around 3,000 daily, alarming health officials there.

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They fear that this could be the result of the spread of new coronavirus variants, which are said to be 70 times more infectious than the usual strain.

Among the new cases in Hong Kong today, seven were found to have the mutated virus, although Chuang did not identify them from among the new imported cases.

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But she said three of the imported cases tested positive on their 19^th day in quarantine and six on the 12^th day. The four others were found infected on arrival at the airport.

Those who returned a positive result on the 19^th day were all returning residents who flew in from Singapore, Pakistan and Nigeria. 

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The three travelers from the Philippines – two domestic helpers and one resident – were among those who were found infected on the 12^th day, along with a returnee each from Pakistan, Canada and Belgium.

Those who were found to have the coronavirus on arrival was an air crew from Turkey, two returnees from Pakistan, and another from the UAE.

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Of the eight local cases, three were deemed untraceable while five were linked to previous infectious.

Among the linked cases was a 56-year-old man working at Windsor House in Causeway Bay whose source of infection is believed to be linked to the outbreak at Ming’s Chinese Restaurant at K11Musea in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Four infections in Coast Seafood & Grill are linked to Mr Ming's restaurant cluster

According to Chuang, the man had lunch at the Coast Seafood & Grill on Cleveland Street in Causeway Bay on Feb 22, and was seated at the table used by another person who had been to Ming’s just days earlier.

Two other diners who sat at a nearby table at different times were also found infected.

Chuang said staff at the restaurant had all been tested, and the results were all negative. Around 20 environmental samples taken from the restaurant all came back negative for the virus as well.

Despite this, the premises has been asked to close for disinfection, and for staff to undergo testing again.

“The chance of random occurrence is a bit low. That’s why we advised them to do the testing,” said Chuang.

She said everyone who ate at the restaurant should also get tested.

The three untraceable cases included a 26-year-old man who works at a facility for mentally disabled people in Kwun Tong and tested positive only after repeated testing because he had Covid-19 symptoms. 

 Another is a 58-year-old man who works in a laboratory in Tai Po and a 27-year-old man who works in a gym in Pokfulam

Fewer than 10 preliminary positive cases were reported, but they again included some with unknown sources.

Dr Linda Yu from the Hospital Authority said 205 confirmed patients are being treated in 24 public hospitals and the treatment facilities at AsiaWorld Expo and the North Lantau Hospital. Of these, 14 are in critical condition, 12 in serious condition, while the 179 others are stable.

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Helper jailed 4 weeks for using invalid contract to borrow $21k

By Vir B. Lumicao 

The Filipina helper was arrested while processing a new work contract at Immigration

A Filipina domestic helper was sent to prison for four weeks on Tuesday, Mar 9, after she pleaded guilty to fraud for taking out a $21,000 loan from a lending firm in 2018 by using a terminated contract as supporting document.

S.C. Bornea, 48, admitted a charge of “obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception” when she appeared in Eastern Court this morning before Magistrate Peter Law.

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The prosecution said that Bornea went to the Prime Credit office at Euro Trade Centre, Des Voeux Road Central, on Oct 10, 2018 and applied for the loan. She presented a work contract to support her application which turned out to be no longer valid.

The company approved the loan and paid her $21,000, which she was supposed to repay in 12 monthly installments of $2,076 each.

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After paying the first installment on Nov 10, 2018, the defendant missed her second payment on Dec 18 that year and then disappeared.

The lender then got a call from Bornea’s employer saying she was dismissed at the end of September 2018. The case was reported to the police.

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It turned out Bornea had gone back to the Philippines, but she returned to Hong Kong in December last year after being hired by a new employer. However, she was again fired after only two days.

She found another employer and was processing her new employment contract at the Immigration Department when she was arrested.

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Further investigation showed that despite not being in Hong Kong, the helper had made three repayments to Prime Credit in 2019 totaling $3,000: the first on Feb 18, another on Sept 1 and the third on Nov 5.

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After her arrest, Bornea fully repaid the loan. But she was still charged with deception on Feb 8.

In mitigation, the defense counsel said Bornea’s father died in hospital in June 2018. The family needed money to pay his bills, so she was forced to take out a loan and go home.

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Mobile Covid-19 testing stations to be set up in 3 FDH haunts

 By The SUN 

One of the free Covid-19 testing stations will be set up on Chater Road

The Labour Department will bring its free Covid-19 testing directly to foreign domestic helpers over the next two Sundays, Mar 14 and 21, when it sets up mobile specimen collection stations at three of their favorite hangouts.

In a statement issued today, Mar 9, the LD said the mobile stations will be set up on Chater Road in Central, Hing Fat Street entrance of Victoria Park in Causeway Bay (near exit  A2 of Tin Hau MTR station) and Lai Chi Kok Park entrance (exit D of Mei Foo Station).

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The statement said the free testing is offered free to all FDHs for their benefit, and to reduce the risk of virus transmission within the community.

Another specimen collection station will be set up on the Hing Fat street entrance of Victoria Park

The last free testing offered to FDH lasted from Aug 2020 to Feb 2021, and was offered to FDHs whose employment contracts had expired or were terminated, and who were waiting to join their new employers.

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“We strongly encourage FDHs to participate in the free testing to safeguard their health. We also appeal to employment agencies and employers to encourage and arrange for FDHs to receive the free testing service at designated mobile specimen collection stations. No prior appointment is required."

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The specimen collection will be conducted from 10am to 5pm on the two Sundays indicated, and will be on a first come, first served basis.

FDHs must bring along their HKID card or passport, and register his/her personal information on the spot at the government website (www.tgptest.gov.hk. Please select "Non-Government Staff - Foreign domestic helpers") in order to receive an SMS notification of the test result.

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FDHs will be given the barcode number of the specimen bottle they collect after registration for reference. If necessary, duty officers can assist the FDH in registration.  

Specimen collection will be through a combined nasal and throat swab, and all specimens will be forwarded to a laboratory for testing.

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If the result is negative, the participant will receive a notification via SMS. Positive cases will be referred to the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH), which will contact the participant directly.

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For enquiries, call the dedicated FDH hotline at 2157 9537 (manned by 1823) or by email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk.

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