HK posts 7 coronavirus cases today, all imported

By The SUN 

The 5 infected passengers with the variant flew in aboard an Air India flight (File)

Hong Kong reported no new local coronavirus infections today, Apr 4, but with seven imported ones, including five returnees from India who were carrying the highly infectious N501Y variant.

The two others were both foreign domestic helpers who did not carry the mutated virus. A 48-year-old Filipina arrived from Manila via a Cathay flight CX906 flight on Mar 31, while a 44-year-old Indonesian flew in on CX2780 from Surabaya on Apr 2.

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Staff at the Centre for Health Protection said all the five travelers from India took Air India Flight 1310 from Kolkata on Mar 22, and tested positive for Covid-19 on their second test while in hotel quarantine.

The passengers, aged 4 to 37, were asymptomatic and stayed in three separate hotels.

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The CHP said 130 infections had been recorded since Mar 21, including 39 local cases, of which 11 had no known source.

People have been flocking to newly reopened beaches

Despite its constant reminder for people to stay at home and avoid dining out, thousands continued to descend on beaches, theme parks and at malls on the third day of the long Easter and Ching Ming holidays.

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Health officials are worried that the sudden flow of people outdoors could trigger a rebound in local cases. The last time there was no local case was on Mar 27.

Among the officials who expressed concern was Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung, who urged the public to remain vigilant during the long holiday.

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“When participating in outdoor events and tomb-sweeping activities during the Easter holidays and Ching Ming Festival, people should remain vigilant and strictly abide by the infection-control rules, as well as wear masks and avoid crowded areas,” Cheung wrote on his blog.

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“If members of the public let their guard down or stop being careful, it is very likely a resurgence of cases could happen after the holiday, which would render all our hard work in fighting the virus completely futile,” Cheung said.

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On Saturday, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan also urged the public to maintain social distancing and avoid crowded places, as thousands took advantage of the clear weather to go out, mostly to newly-reopened beaches and swimming pools.

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Today’s cases took Hong Kong’s infection tally to 11,509 since the Covid-19 outbreak began in January last year.

The Hospital Authority said that as at 9am today, a total of 127 confirmed patients were being treated in 21 public hospitals and the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre.

Of this number, nine patients are in critical condition, three are serious and the remaining 115 patients are stable.

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Bus fares to go up from tomorrow, Apr 4

By The SUN

Citybus and New World are allowed to raise fares this year and next

Bus fares across Hong Kong will rise between 8.5 percent and 9.8 percent tomorrow, with further increments taking effect from next year.

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Citybus and New World First Bus, which mainly operate on Hong Kong island, will increase charges by 8.5 percent from tomorrow, and a further 3.2 percent taking effect on Jan 2, 2022. (For example, the fare for route no 10 from North Point Ferry to Kennedy Town, will go up from $3.70 to $4)

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KMB, which mainly operates in Kowloon, will adjust fares also by 8.5 percent, but because of the mitigating effect of the Franchised Bus Toll Exemption Fund (TEF) the average fare increase of KMB's solely operated routes would only be 5.8 per cent.

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The New Lantao Bus Company will charge 9.8 percent more.

The new fares were approved by the Executive Council on Mar 16.

Govt says about 90% of riders will not pay more than $1 extra 

In a statement, the government said about 90 per cent of passengers will pay no more than $1 extra per trip. With the implementation of the second phase of fee increases by Citybus and New World next year, about 90 per cent of their passengers will pay no more than $1.50 extra per trip in total.

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The government also said the franchised bus operators have been facing severe financial difficulties because of the declining revenue in the wake of the pandemic, and rising operating costs.

 

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“It is of great importance to maintain the financial viability of the franchised bus operators for providing safe and quality public bus services, the government will continue to encourage and assist franchised bus operators to adopt a multi-pronged approach in the long run in implementing revenue-raising and expenditure-cutting measures,” the statement said.

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The public may check notices displayed at bus stops to find out how much they have to pay as a result of the increase. They may also visit the bus companies’ websites (www.kmb.hk, www.bravobus.com.hk and www.nlb.com.hk) for the new fares on individual routes.

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NCR Plus lockdown extended as 12,276 new coronavirus cases reported

By The SUN 

ECQ lockdown in Metro Manila, 4 provinces extended to Apr 11 (Inquirer photo)

Metro Manila and its four adjacent provinces – Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna – will remain under lockdown for at least another week under the government’s enhanced community quarantine scheme which is supposed to end Sunday, Apr. 4.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the quarantine restrictions in the area designated as “NCR (National Capital Region) Plus” will now last until Apr 11.

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“Nagrekomenda po ang inyong IATF na pahabain pa ang ECQ ng minimum na isang linggo sa buong Metro Manila at mga probinsya ng Laguna, Bulacan, Cavite at Rizal,” Roque said over the government-run PTV 4. (IATF has recommended extending the ECQ for a minimum of one week in Metro Manila and provinces of Laguna, Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal.)

Roque also said that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the extension of the ECQ.

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He made the announcement as the Philippines’ active coronavirus cases roses to a record high 165,715 with 12,276 new infections being recorded Saturday.

The additional cases brought the country’s total tally to 784,403. This was despite seven laboratories failing to submit their data on time.

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However, most or 96.5 percent of the confirmed patients only have mild symptoms, 2.2 percent are asymptomatic, 0.5 percent are severe and 0.30 percent are moderate.

According to Roque government will intensify its program of detecting and isolating patients during the extended lockdown.

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“Kinakailangang paigtingin po yung ating tinatawag na PDITR o yung ating prevention, detection, isolation, tracing at reintegration at dahil dito po, nirereequire po natin ngayon na magkaron ng daily monitoring ang lokal na pamahalaan, ang ating mga NTF czars para po malaman natin kung ano ang resulta ng pinaigting na PDITR,” he said. (We need to intensify what we call PDITR and because of this, we are requiring our local government and NTF czars to do a daily monitoring to see the results of the intensified PDITR.)

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As part of this strategy, officials will reportedly go door to door to locate those infected and subject them to testing and isolation if necessary.

Nearly all hospitals in Metro Manila have run out of beds for Covid-19 patients (Inquirer)

Meanwhile, the continuing surge in infections has led to most hospitals in Metro Manila running out of space for Covid-19 patients. News reports show sick patients being turned away from hospitals because of lack of space.

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At hospitals like the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City which has been designated as a Covid-19 treatment facility, dozens of vehicles are lined up outside, all waiting for the chance to get their sick passengers admitted.

The spillover from the capital has reportedly affected hospitals in provinces hundreds of  kilometers away like Batangas, where health officials are planning to set up tents for patients waiting for admission.

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There is also a plan to convert the Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital in Bacoor City, Cavite, to cater exclusively to Covid-19 patients. 

In response to the emergency,  Malacanang said 110 beds will be set up at Quezon Institute in Quezozn City for Covid-19 patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

At least one hospital, the National Orthopedic Center in Quezon City, has also been hit with a cluster of cases, with 117 of its health care personnel coming down with the virus.

The hospital has stopped its face-to-face outpatient services as a result, but says it will continue accepting emergency cases.

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2 Covid-19 cases reported today, including Filipina DH with variant

By The SUN 

The Filipina tested positive while in quarantine at Ramada Harbour View Hotel

A Filipina domestic helper who tested positive for Covid-19 and was found to carry the N501Y variant is one of two confirmed cases reported today, Apr 3.

The other is a 5-year-old boy who is a family member of a patient who tested positive earlier. They live in a Tseung Kwan O village house.

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According to a staff of the Centre for Health Protection, the 36-year-old Filipina tested positive on her second sample while quarantined at the Ramada Harbour View Hotel in Sai Ying Pun. She arrived in Hong Kong on board Cebu Pacific Flight 5J272 on Mar 20.

She was the 41^st Filipino to test positive shortly after arriving in Hong Kong for the past 15 days.

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Hong Kong now has a total tally of 11,502 Covid-19 cases so far.

In the past 14 days, a total of 136 cases had been recorded, of which 45 are local cases, including 12 whose sources are unknown.

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Contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, check the Covid-19 Thematic Website (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).

Everyone who had visited specified venues under the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap 599J) must receive Covid-19 nucleic acid testing. All household members of close contacts of confirmed cases must also undergo testing within a specified period.

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Anyone who develops symptoms is urged to seek medical attention early and undergo testing as soon as possible.

The government’s vaccination program is ongoing, and the public may choose between two vaccines, one from mainland company Sinovac, and the other from German pharmaceutical company BioNTech. Details of the programme, including how to book an appointment for the vaccine can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).

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In the meantime, the CHP calls on the public to avoid going out and socializing, including dining out, especially during the long holiday season. If they need to go out, they should wear a mask and maintain strict personal hygiene.

Despite the advisory, various media reports say people have come out in droves to have fun at newly reopened beaches and swimming pools.

People flocked to beaches today, despite CHP's warning to avoid crowds

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The CHP strongly urged the elderly to stay home as far as possible and avoid going out. They should consider asking their family and friends to help with everyday tasks such as shopping for basic necessities.

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Non-essential travel outside is also discouraged. “Given that the situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and that there is a continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, members of the public are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong," said the statement.

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SCC Divas bags 2 championships; eyes top division slot

By Vir B. Lumicao 

Divas players celebrate their victory over Lantau ladies on Mar 28

Filipina team SCC Divas are back-to-back champions in this season’s shortened Hong Kong cricket Women’s Development League and Women’s T20 Division 2 League after winning all their matches in the two campaigns.

Barring a defeat in an upcoming duel for promotion to T20 Division 1, the all-domestic-helper team will be playing in that division next season, said Divas captain Josie Arimas after her team crushed Lantau Ladies to top the Division 2 league on Mar 28.

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 “Meron pa kaming laro na last play-off laban sa loser ng Division 1 pero wala pang date. Kung mananalo kami sa game, level up kami sa Division,” said Arimas.

(We’ll have a last play-off against the loser in the Division 1, but we still have no date. If we win the game, we’ll level up to the division.)

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She said Divas is lined up to face the bottom dweller in that group for the last slot.

Arimas defends the Divas wicket in their WDL championship match

Divas captured the WDL championship match on Mar 21 with a 28-run victory over the USRC Women’s. Divas scored 253/4 against USRCW’s 225/3 in 16 overs at the Po Kong Village Road Recreation Ground.

Fresh from that win, Divas scored 166/6 in 20 overs for a 101-run hammering of Lantau Ladies, who could only produce 65/10 in 14 overs, as the Filipinas captured the T20 Division 2 championship also at PKVR.

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The back-to-back victories gave SCC Divas four consecutive years of unbeaten record in the WDL since joining the league in the 2017-2018 season.

When the 2020-2021 season began last Oct 18, Divas made 234 runs with the loss of 2 wickets to crush HKCC Diamonds, who made 106 runs but lost 8 wickets.

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Divas made a double on Nov 15 with a 288/3 win over KCC Young Maidens, who had 224/4 in a 9am duel. The Filipinas followed through with a 257/6 trashing of Lantau Ladies, who were behind by 64 runs with 193 at the cost of all its 10 wickets.

All league matches were cancelled in January to mid-February due to Covid-19.

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When WDL and T20 league matches resumed in late February, Divas reasserted its dominance with a 300/1 win over Lantau Ladies, who made 175/7, in Game 2. Earlier that Sunday, Divas also carved out a 33-run triumph over Craigengower, 261/5 vs 228/3. 

Early on, Divas was cruising to a glorious finish in 2019-2020 with a no-defeat slate when the pandemic played havoc on sports. As a result, the season closed prematurely with no winner announced in the league.

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Arimas said the Filipinas felt shortchanged, but they took that in stride as their leading the league is itself a record in Hong Kong women’s cricket.

The Divas repeated their WDL feat in the T20 Division 2 campaign versus Lantau Ladies for championship.

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On Feb 28, Divas overpowered India Club by 194 runs with a 214/2 versus 20/9 to start their campaign in the T20 Division 2. The Filipinas pounded USRCW with 182/5 versus 79/4 on Mar 5 to set up their championhip duel with the Lantau Ladies.

Jennifer Alumbro scored 25 runs and captured 3 wickets to win the season’s Most Valuable Player award. Her teammate Iris Mae Meru scored 54 runs batting.

Lolita Olaquier made 13 runs and took 3 wickets. Christine Joy Lovino had 4 runs and 2 wickets while Romela Osabel added 2 runs and 1 wicket. Jonna Eguid added 8 runs.

The Lantau Ladies only produced 65 runs and lost the T20 duel.

When the game ended, the Divas erupted in cheers as they savored the joy of capturing their second championship in a row.

The year-old SCC Pinay, a spin-off team from the Divas’ 34-player stable, logged spectacular wins in its WDL campaign until they lost their final match, Arimas said.  

“Maganda rin ang performance ng SCC Pinay. Nanalo din sila sa Plate noong intact ang line-up. Pero ipinasok namin ang new players para maka-experience sila sa field, so natalo sila sa final,” she said.

(SCC Pinay also performed well. They also won in the Plate when the line-up was intact. But we deployed new players to give them field experience, so they lost in the final.)

Arimas said the current season ends after the play-off for the T20 Division 1 slot.

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