Quarantine rules may still be tightened if untraceable variant found

 By Vir B. Lumicao 

Dr Chan says stricter quarantine rules will be enforced if the variant's source is unknown

Health Secretary Dr Sophia Chan says quarantine rules may still be tightened for residents of buildings with confirmed patients carrying mutant variants if such cases have no known sources.

She made the statement in a television program today, May 9, to clarify the policy shift announced on Friday that people living in buildings with mutated strains need not spend 21 days’ quarantine in a government facility.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

“We think that the newly adjusted measures are appropriate as they were rolled out after our well-thought-out consideration with the experts taking into account the latest infection data and the epidemic situation. The existing variant cases were traceable with an identifiable source,” Chan said.

“We will keep a close eye on the situation. If there is an unknown source for new variant cases, we won’t rule out adjusting the current Covid-19 control measures,” she added.

Pindutin para sa detalye

Under the adjusted measures, residents in variant-infected blocks will be allowed to quarantine at home but should submit themselves to four periodic tests.

Only those living in the same household as an infected person or staying in environments such as subdivided flats will have to undergo full quarantine.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

 

The policy shift was announced after health officials said they had successfully stopped the spread of a mutated variant of the virus first found in a 29-year-old Indian man who tested positive days after completing his 21-day hotel quarantine.

Seven other infected people have been linked directly to the index patient, who together with his Filipina girlfriend, face charges of withholding information from contact-tracers. They are scheduled to appear in Kowloon City court tomorrow.

Call now!

Delays in confirming the pair’s whereabouts during the infection period led health officials to lock down several residential blocks and send thousands of residents to quarantine. It also prompted mandatory testing of all FDHs in the city.

All residents of the building where the infected couple lived were sent to quarantine centers 

Meanwhile, only one coronavirus case was confirmed today by Hong Kong health officials, pertaining to an asymptomatic female passenger who arrived from Argentina on May 7 and later tested positive for the N501Y variant.

The Centre for Health Protection said the 52-year-old woman arrived on Emirates flight EK384 from Dubai via Bangkok.

The new patient took to 11,808 the total number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong.

CALL US!

 

Fewer than five preliminary positive cases were found, a CHP staff said.

Earlier, the president of the Hong Kong Medical Association, warned in an RTHK program that vaccination is the only hope against Covid-19, which could be here to stay, unlike the Sars outbreak in 2003.

But Dr Gabriel Choi Kin said distrust of the government is holding back efforts to get as many residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love.

 

He noted that only around 12 percent of qualified residents have taken at least one dose of the vaccine, which is a long shot away from the 70 percent needed for a place to attain herd immunity.

“Trust of the authority is an issue which dictates whether the citizens will want to get vaccinated or not,” Choi said, adding the offered incentives for fully vaccinated people are complicated and not interesting enough to get the jab.

But he said the even with herd immunity variant strains could still be a threat, so border controls should remain strict and adequate.

PADALA NA!

CALL US!

Call us!

HK’s first 2 variant patients charged with hiding information

By Daisy CL Mandap

The two will appear in Kowloon City Court on Monday, May 10

A 29-year-old Indian man and his 31-year-old Filipina girlfriend who were the first locally identified carriers of a coronavirus variant have been charged in court with failing to disclose relevant information to investigators doing contact tracing.

A statement issued by the Department of Health late on Saturday said the man was charged with one count of giving false or misleading information while the woman faces a count of failing to comply with the requirement to give information.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The alleged offences are said to be contrary to section 3(4) and section 3(2) of the Prevention and Control of Disease (Disclosure of Information) Regulation (Cap. 599D) respectively.

According to the statement, the man is suspected of giving false or misleading information to an authorized officer of the Centre for Health Protection during an epidemiological investigation conducted on Apr 16.

Pindutin para sa detalye

The woman is accused of failing to comply with the legal requirement to give information to an authorized officer on Apr 17.

The two will appear at Kowloon City Magistracy on May 10 where their case is scheduled for mention.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

 

They were arrested earlier on Saturday and taken to the Yau Ma Tei police station for questioning.

Five other cases involving the coronavirus variant had emerged in the community after the two were found infected. As the source was initially unknown in at least two of the cases, officials feared that a silent transmission was going on, particularly among foreign domestic helpers.

Call now!

This led the government to order all of the city’s 370,000 FDHs to undergo tests for Covid-19.

At the same time, entire buildings where the infected patients lived were evacuated and all residents sent off to 21-day quarantine.

CALL US!

Only after more information was obtained from the two that a direct link between them and the other cases was established.

Health experts say the Indian resident who flew in from Dubai on Mar 19 is the index patient in a cluster of variant cases involving eight people, five of them Filipinas. The two others are the female employer and a 10-month-old baby girl under the care of one of the Filipinas.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love.

The DH statement said that concealing or providing false or misleading information to an authorised officer is “grossly irresponsible” as this may hinder contact tracing process and pose serious threat to public health.

The statement warned that “resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations.”

PADALA NA!

CALL US!

Call us!

HK’s first 2 variant carriers arrested for suspected cover-up

By The SUN 

Parkes Building was evacuated after the two were found to carry the variant

Hong Kong Police have confirmed the arrest this morning of the Indian male returnee and his Filipina girlfriend who were identified as the first two local patients found with the Covid-19 variant, on suspicion of providing misleading information to investigators doing contact tracing.

Health experts say the 29-year-old Indian man who flew in from Dubai on Mar 19 is the index patient in a cluster of variant cases involving eight people, three of them Filipina domestic workers.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

His 31-year-old Filipina girlfriend with whom he lived in Parkes building in Jordan after completing his 21-day hotel quarantine at Ramada Grand Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui was subsequently found to also carry the variant.

According to media reports, the two were detained at the Yau Ma Tei police station for questioning. The man was reportedly held on suspicion of giving misleading information, while the woman was arrested for refusing to provide details of her whereabouts during the infection period.

Pindutin para sa detalye

The reports said the man was discharged from the hospital on Apr 28 and the woman on May 1.

They were arrested just as the residents of Parkes Building who were all moved to a quarantine center were allowed to return home after completing 21 days of isolation.

A Parkes resident returning home after 21 days of quarantine

A police spokeswoman said they would not add to what has already been reported, and suggested the Department of Health be consulted for more information.

Pindutin para sa detalye

The DH is reportedly consulting with the Department of Justice on whether prosecution is warranted.

Under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance, it is an offense to refuse to provide information required by a medical practitioner, or give misleading information. An offender could be liable to imprisonment of up to six months.

Call now!

Health officials who reported about the man’s variant infection on Apr 14 had said initially that he did not go around much, and mentioned only two bank branches near Jordan, and a restaurant in Cheung Chau among the places he visited.

But after a Filipina domestic worker living in Tung Chung, along with her 10-month-old ward were found to carry the same genomes of the virus as the Indian man, more details emerged about the pair’s whereabouts during the infection period.

CALL US!

The two reportedly told investigators they had been to Citygate outlet mall and had dinner at a curry place, both in Tung Chung. They also related going to another restaurant in Discovery Bay.

The subsequent discovery that three Filipina helpers who live in different districts carried the same variant led to more disclosures from the duo.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love.

Health officials said the couple had dinner with the woman’s family members in Chai Wan on Apr 13. Then on Apr 18, three of the guests in that gathering held another party at a Sham Shui Po flat where the three Filipina helpers, including the one in Tung Chung, were present.

Linked to this cluster apart from the couple and the three domestic helpers are the woman’s mother whose infection was confirmed on Friday, the baby girl in Tung Chung, and the infant’s mother who tested positive after being moved to a quarantine center.

Meanwhile, four of the five new cases reported today are all women, aged 29 to 40, who had recently returned from Indonesia and tested positive while in quarantine. The fifth is a one-year-old boy who came from Spain and was found infected while in hotel quarantine.

PADALA NA!

CALL US!

Call us!

World-Wide Plaza, Statue Square put under compulsory testing order

By The SUN

Thousands of people would have been in World-Wide Plaza at the designated time

Two favorite haunts in Central of Filipino domestic workers have been placed under compulsory testing order after an elderly Filipina resident was found to carry a mutated coronavirus.

A statement released by the government late on Friday said anyone who had stayed in World-Wide Plaza (only the mall) for at least an hour on May 1 and 2 must get themselves tested for Covid-19 by May 10.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The same order applies to anyone who spent at least an hour in Statue Square on May 2.

Those who had Covid tests on May 1 to 7 are exempted from the order, as well as those who are fully vaccinated, meaning those who have had two doses of a vaccine on or before Apr 23 (plus 14 days after vaccination).

Part of Statue Square which is covered by the testing order

The 67-year-old female patient who was one of three confirmed cases reported Friday is the mother of the Filipina girlfriend of an Indian returnee from Dubai who appears to have spread the variant after getting out of his 21-day hotel quarantine.

Five other infections were linked to the man, including three Filipina domestic workers and the employer and ward of one of them.

Pindutin para sa detalye

Two other places that the patient visited were also listed in the compulsory testing notice. These are Hing Wah Plaza and New Jade Shopping Arcade, both in Chai Wan. Anyone who had been to either place for at least an hour on Apr 29 must have themselves tested by May 10.

Also listed in the notice are 16 mostly kindergarten and primary schools in which outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection and/or flu-like illness have occurred.

Pindutin para sa detalye

The places under the compulsory testing notice are here: https://gia.info.gov.hk/general/202105/07/P2021050700854_366769_1_1620398163831.pdf

Foreign domestic helpers who have yet to get tested can avail of the services provided by 21 community testing centres across the city. Booking and walk-in services are available. For information, check out: www.communitytest.gov.hk/en.

Call now!

In addition, mobile specimen collection stations will be set up at the following locations from this weekend:

     • Hing Wah Estate Playground No. 1, Chai Wan (May 8 to 10)
     • Chai Wan Park (Basketball Courts No.1 and 2) (May 8 to 10)
     • Lay-by at Wan Tsui Lane, Chai Wan (May 8 to 10)
     • Man Tung Road Park entrance, Tung Chung (May 8 to 9)

CALL US!

The following mobile stations will operate as usual, but will open early at either 8am or 9am during the weekend: Central and Western District (namely Edinburgh Place in Central, Outside Central Piers No.9 and No.10, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, Kennedy Town Playground and Tamar Park in Admiralty).

All 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;

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love.

     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 CHP (if applicable), and return the specimen bottle with the sample collected as per relevant guidelines.

The mobile testing van in Edinburgh Place will open at 8am on Sat and Sunday

All those subject to compulsory testing must keep the SMS notification containing the result of the test for checking by a law enforcement office.

Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be made to the hotline, 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

Anyone who fails to comply with the testing notices commits 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. Failure to comply with the order could make the offender liable to a fine of up to $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.

In addition, any person who fails to comply with the reasonable request of a law enforcer to provide information and assistance could be liable to a fine of up to $10,000.

PADALA NA!

CALL US!

Call us!

Govt steps back from isolating residents in variant-tainted blocks

By The SUN

More than 1,000 residents were evacuated from a housing block in Caribbean Coast

In a major shift in its pandemic response, the government announced Friday that it would no longer impose a 21-day quarantine for residents of entire housing blocks where Covid infections involving mutant strains are found.

If they test negative following a lockdown they can remain in their homes, but must comply with more mandatory testing afterwards.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The move follows accusations that the government had overreacted to the discovery of coronavirus variants within the community.

Much of the criticism came from hundreds of people told to move to quarantine facilities as soon as a single case of a variant infection was found in their housing blocks. 

Lam says the policy shift was made after assessing the latest situation

Controller of the Centre for Health Protection, Ronald Lam, said at the press conference officials had decided to release the residents early after reviewing the latest situation.

He said people evacuated from Parkes Building where an Indian returnee from Dubai found to have the South African variant had lived would soon complete their 21-day quarantine and none of them has been found to carry the virus.

Pindutin para sa detalye

Following this, thousands more people were moved to quarantine centers after a string of variant carriers were found.

They included residents of a block in Caribbean Coast in Tung Chung, Kennedy Heights in Mid-Levels, Beauty Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui, Allway Gardens in Tsuen Wan, Kornhill Garden in Quarry Bay, and Royalton in Pokfulam. 

Pindutin para sa detalye

Also moved were nearly 80 Filipinos who belong to the choir of St Thomas the Apostle church in Tsing Yi, where the helper from Tung Chung was also a member.

But apart from the female employer of the Tung Chung patient, no infection has been found so far from among those moved to quarantine camps..

Call now!

Lam deflected criticism of an overreaction, saying officials could not find the source of the infections at first. But the concern eased after seven of the most recent cases were all linked to the Indian returnee from Dubai.

“We had to adopt the most prudent approach and most stringent measures,” he said.

CALL US!

“This is not only for the health of the residents, but also to prevent further transmission within the community. So this is definitely not an overreaction but a very cautious approach to protect the health of Hong Kong.”

Under the new rules, those already sent to quarantine camps for 21 days, including more than a thousand people from Tower 11 of Caribbean Coast, will be tested again. They can go home if they obtain a negative test result, but will continue taking a series of Covid tests afterwards.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love.

The amended rules were mostly a nod to residents who have been fully vaccinated.

If they are deemed as close contacts of coronavirus patients with variants they can leave quarantine after 14 days if they are fully vaccinated, instead of the current 21 days. But they will still have to undergo mandatory tests after their return home.

If they are linked to infected patients who do not have the mutant strains, their quarantine period will go down to 7 days from the current 14.

Chan says only those returning from high risk countries
will still be subject to 21-day quarantine

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Dr Sophia Chan said that new quarantine rules that take effect next Wednesday will benefit returning residents if they are fully vaccinated.

Those coming from low-risk countries, such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, will be required to undergo quarantine at a hotel for seven days, instead of 14, but they must have one more Covid test afterwards.

The quarantine period for those arriving from medium-risk places will be cut to 14 days from 21.

But the quarantine rules for those who fly in from high-risk countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland will remain unchanged.

People in countries currently designated as “extremely high risk” such as the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Nepal, South Africa and Brazil are still barred from flying to Hong Kong

PADALA NA!

CALL US!

Call us!