Singapore to allow HK travelers to enter quarantine-free

By Daisy CL Mandap 

HK visitors may enter Singapore without quarantine from midnight tonight

Singapore has announced that it will allow all travelers from Hong Kong to skip quarantine when they fly in starting at 11:59 tonight, regardless of their vaccination status.

The announcement was made as both governments announced they would abandon a travel bubble plan, which would have allowed a reciprocal quarantine-free entry to each other’s residents.

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“Singapore will unilaterally open to visitors from Hong Kong, which is in category 1,” said the city state’s minister for transport, S Iswaran.

“Similar to visitors from other very low risk countries and regions like Mainland China (excluding Jiangsu province), New Zealand and Taiwan, visitors from Hong Kong will be allowed to enter Singapore with just an on-arrival test.”

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The new rules will also apply to visitors from Macau.

Singapore said the move is part of its new strategy of building a “Covid-resilient” nation, which entails relaxing anti-pandemic measures and allowing the virus to become part of a “new normal.”

Because of this policy shift, Hong Kong said it has decided to end talks on a travel bubble with Singapore.

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Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau said Singapore’s decision to change its strategy in combating the virus deviates from certain criteria the two governments had decided to adopt before agreeing on a travel bubble.

“As a result, we have to put a pause to this bilateral arrangement,” said Yau.

Yau (right, with Health Secretary Sophia Chan) confirms the end of travel bubble plan

But he added he was glad Singapore recognized the stable situation and “close to zero community outbreak” in Hong Kong and has thus decided unilaterally to give quarantine-free access to visitors from here.

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Travelers from Singapore, on the other hand, can only enjoy the lowest quarantine period of 14 days if they are vaccinated when they enter Hong Kong. The compulsory isolation goes up to 21 days if they are unvaccinated.

In addition, they must present a negative result for a PCR test conducted within 72 hours before boarding, and get tested on arrival and four more during quarantine.

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This is in line with the boarding and quarantine requirements set for places designated as medium risk like Singapore.

Also in this category are Taiwan, Macau and the Mainland, and most other countries that are not among the 24 places listed as high-risk, from where only vaccinated residents can enter Hong Kong, and quarantine for 21 days.

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The only country classified as low risk or category C is New Zealand, where travelers who visit Hong Kong can reduce their quarantine period to just seven days if they are vaccinated.

In a statement earlier today, Hong Kong clarified that its requirement for travelers to hold “recognized” vaccination records applies only to residents coming in from category A or high-risk countries.

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For those arriving from medium to low risk countries, it is enough that they hold vaccination records issued “by the relevant authorities or relevant institutions where the vaccines were administered.”

"For high-risk Group A specified places, Hong Kong residents are currently required to hold recognized vaccination records for boarding flights for Hong Kong, and they must undergo compulsory quarantine in designated quarantine hotels for 21 days upon arrival at Hong Kong. The relevant requirements remain unchanged," said the statement.

The footnote said the “recognized vaccination records” include those issued by Hong Kong, Mainland or Macau authorities; those by countries designated by the World Health Organization as having a stringent regulatory authority; or those with a bilateral vaccination record recognition agreement with Hong Kong.

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Booster shots given to Sinovac recipients to raise antibody levels

By The SUN

Top officials who were the first to get Sinovac jabs in HK may need booster shots (File) 

Local researchers have begun giving booster shots to fully inoculated Sinovac vaccine recipients with low antibody levels to find out whether there is a need to give Hong Kong residents a third jab.

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This comes as two new confirmed Covid-19 cases, both imported and fully vaccinated, were reported by Hong Kong health officials today, Aug 20.

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Health Department staff said the two patients, a 53-year-old man who returned from Germany on Aug 16, a 30-year-old female air crew who arrived from Russia on Aug 18, both carried the L452R variant. They are both asymptomatic.

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The man received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine in Hong Kong on Apr 14 and May 5, while the woman received two jabs of Sputnik V in Russia on Jul 1 and 22.

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The man was found infected on his third day of hotel quarantine while the woman tested positive on arrival test.

Meanwhile, Chinese University experts said a study they conducted among 160 people who were fully vaccinated by Sinovac showed they had low antibody levels a month after completing the two doses.

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Lead researcher David Hui, who is also a government adviser on the pandemic, said in a radio interview that a low antibody level could mean reduced protection against a symptomatic infection of the coronavirus.

Hui says the low antibody level could mean lower protection against symptomatic infection

Hui said this may be because Sinovac is an inactivated vaccine.

But he said their research, which also included a number of people who received the BioNTech vaccine, showed both vaccines are able to generate T cells, which lower the risk of severe symptoms and deaths.

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The researchers plan to give a booster shot of either vaccine to a randomly chosen group of 80 people to find out how the additional jab would affect their antibody level. The first group of 31 had their third dose on Wednesday.

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Hui said the research team should be able to publish the first results of their test in October. But he said the project will run for three years, with participants regularly monitored for antibody levels.

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Expert sees contamination in clerk's preliminary positive case

By The SUN

Clinic where the sample contamination is believed to have happened

A government health expert has made light of a local clerk testing preliminary positive case for Covid-19, saying it appeared to be another case of sample contamination.

The 32-year-old man reportedly left a sample specimen on Aug 16 at Dr Julian Cheung’s clinic at South Horizons in Ap Lei Chau, and it tested positive. However, it had a CT value of between 34 to 37, indicating a low viral load.

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After he was taken to hospital, his test results came back negative.

Professor Yuen Kwok-yung who advises the government on its pandemic response inspected the clinic this afternoon, and said afterwards that it was possible the man’s sample had been contaminated by the Covid-19 vaccines being administered there.

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“On the day the man was tested, four others received their Covid vaccinations there. Although the doctor and nurses may have washed their hands and disinfected the area with alcohol afterward, the inactivated virus within the vaccine could have remained inside the clinic and contaminated the man’s sample,” Yuen said.

Yuen says the doctor and nurses followed disinfection procedures

Dr Albert Au of the Centre for Health Protection said the man who works in an office in Admiralty is unvaccinated, so he is required by his company to undergo regular testing for Covid-19.

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The man has no recent travel history, and was not in close contact with people with a high risk of infection.

But as a precaution, Au said around 30 individuals have been listed as the man’s close contacts and sent to quarantine camps.

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None of them has tested positive for the virus.

This is not the first time contamination from vaccine residue from a vaccination centre has resulted in people testing positive for Covid-19.

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One local man who worked in a laboratory processing test samples for Covid-19 and a nurse who helped administer Sinovac jabs in a community vaccination centre had both tested positive for the coronavirus initially.

They were, however, declared as false positives after repeated tests showed they only carried residues of the vaccine from Sinovac, which is made using inactivated virus.

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In April, the government suspended the mobile sampling services of the BGI group after it declared 28 samples as preliminary positive. Further investigation revealed the samples had all been tainted by a positive specimen.

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Filipina DH dies after collapsing in bathroom

By Vir B. Lumicao 

Gemma's exact cause of death is still being determined

Veteran domestic helper Gemma Foronda, who should be turning 57 in December, had complained last week about pains in her belly and of passing dark-colored urine.

Last night, at around 10pm, she reportedly went to the bathroom to take a shower as she would normally do after her day’s work. As she was taking a long time inside, her fellow domestic worker alerted their employers, who then called the police. 

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Responding officers found the worker unconscious on the bathroom floor and rushed her to Kwong Wah Hospital where she was declared dead just before midnight. 

Her younger sister, Salie Foronda, told The SUN that on Aug 13 and 14, Gemma had complained of fluctuating blood pressure, apart from abdominal pain, so she urged her to visit a doctor.

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But over the next few days, whenever Salie called, Gemma would reportedly assure her she was fine.

On the day she died, Gemma reportedly did her usual chores in the morning, such as taking her ward to school, going to the market, cooking and ironing clothes.

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Her death thus took everyone by surprise.

Salie said her sister’s body will be autopsied Friday morning in Kwai Chung mortuary to determine the cause of her death.

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Gemma is survived by her husband Loreto Landicho and adult children Joel, James and Krizzia, who all live in Lemery, Batangas.

Her family has asked that her remains be shipped home, said Salie.

Gemma (far right) came back to HK to join her younger sister, Salie

The Foronda sisters were originally from Santa Ana, Cagayan. Gemma first came to Hong Kong for her first overseas deployment, then returned home. After that, she went to work in Kuwait, then Bahrain, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

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When she learned that Salie had come to Hong Kong to work, Gemma decided to join her here. She started working for her employer in Kowloon Tong four and a half years ago.

“Masaya nga ako noong nandito na uli siya kasi lagi ko siyang nakakausap kahit hindi kami sabay ng day off dahil pang-Sabado siya,” said Salie. (I was happy when she came back here because I could talk to her frequently even if we could not have our day off together because her rest day is Saturday.)

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Whatever her health problem was, Foronda must have sensed the outcome. A day before her demise, she posted on Facebook a Tagalog version of Psalm 4:1:

O Dios na aking tagapagtanggol, sagutin nyo po ako kung ako’y tumatawag sa inyo. Hindi ba noon ay tinulungan nyo ako nang ako’y nasa kagipitan? Kaya ngayon maawa kayo sa akin at pakinggan ang dalangin ko.” (O God who is my protector, please answer me if I cry out to you. Didn’t you help me when I was in crisis? So now have mercy on me and listen to my prayer.)

Gemma’s family will receive Php120,000 in death and funeral benefits from the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration.

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Public warned against use of 2 whitening creams with toxic mercury levels

By The SUN

 

The night and day creams with mercury levels as much as 2,056 times the acceptable limit

The Centre for Health Protection has advised the public not to buy or use two whitening cream products labeled LC Beauty day and night cream, which may contain excessive mercury that is harmful to health.

According to the press release, tests conducted by the Hospital Authority showed the level of mercury in the day cream was 1,152 times more than the acceptable level, while the night cream was 2,056 times past the limit.

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“The CHP's investigation is continuing. The case has also been referred to the relevant law enforcement agency for follow-up,” said the statement.

A search on Facebook showed the two products are openly sold online, and appear popular among foreign domestic workers, especially those from Indonesia.

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The product tests were made after a 36-year-old woman was admitted to hospital on suspicion of mercury poisoning.

A woman who used these products for 3 months was hospitalized for mercury poisoning

“The patient was found to have proteinuria (presence of excess proteins in urine) after admission to hospital in late July 2021 and reported using the two products for around three months. Her urine sample revealed a mercury level higher than the reference level, which was clinically suspected to be related to the use of the products,” said the CHP.

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The statement also said warned that chronic exposure to mercury can cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys.

Symptoms may include tremors, irritability, insomnia, memory deterioration, concentration difficulty, impaired hearing and vision, and change in the taste function. In severe cases, renal failure may occur," said the CHP.

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Serious side effects may also result from using the products, the statement said.

“People who are using them should stop immediately and consult healthcare professionals as soon as possible if they feel unwell or are in doubt. Members of the public are urged not to buy or use cosmetic products of unknown composition or obtained from doubtful sources.”

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Last July, the CHP also warned against the use of another whitening product from BioClear, after it was found to contain mercury levels that were 16,471 times the maximum permitted limit.

A woman found selling the product in a shop in Central was arrested and prosecuted for violating the Customs Ordinance prohibiting the supply, manufacture or importation of goods that comply with general safety requirements.

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The maximum penalty for the offence is $100,000 fine and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on a subsequent conviction. 

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HK defends decision to exempt Nicole Kidman from quarantine

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Kidman arrives for a film shooting in Sai Wan (Internet photo)

The Hong Kong government has issued a statement defending its decision to exempt Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman from quarantine so she could appear in a movie being shot locally.

In a statement issued earlier today, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said Kidman has been given the quarantine exemption “for the purpose of performing designated professional work, taking into account that it is conducive to maintaining the necessary operation and development of Hong Kong's economy.”

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Kidman reportedly flew into Hong Kong from Sydney on Thursday night aboard a private jet to film the Amazon series, “Expats”.

Two days later she was spotted arriving in Central in a black private car accompanied by bodyguards. She went shopping at COS boutique on Queen’s Road, then reportedly returned to her temporary residence on the Peak.

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She was later photographed filming scenes in Sai Wan and at Peak School.

News of her being allowed to skip quarantine prompted many people, including a health expert, to accuse the government of giving her unfair treatment, especially since it has just tightened boarding and quarantine requirements for all new arrivals in the city.

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Government adviser David Hui said it was ill-advised to exempt Kidman from quarantine, especially since she had come from Sydney, where there has been a surge in infections because of the Delta variant.

But according to the government statement, all bureaus or departments may request for such exemption from the Chief Secretary for Administration, taking into account the advice of health authorities and the prevailing public health situation.

Film shooting at Peak School: The govt says Kidman has been complying with regulations

It added that anyone given this exemption must still comply with anti-pandemic restrictions such as vaccinations prior to arrival, a designated place of stay, testing and securing negative Covid-19 and at intervals in line with the prevailing requirements, pre-determined work-related itineraries (e.g. filming, costume fitting, rehearsals and business meetings), point-to-point transportation and prohibition of using public transport, etc. 

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The Bureau also said that in addition to these restrictions, it will carry out checks and verifications to ensure compliance by the exempted person.

“No breach of the exemption conditions by the personnel concerned has been identified so far,” said the statement.

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Meanwhile, five new imported cases including a seafarer and a baby were reported today, and all of them were found to carry the L452R mutant strain. All except the 9-month-old baby boy were fully vaccinated.

The first patient is a 56-year-old woman who arrived from Pakistan with symptoms and tested positive on arrival test. She received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine in Hong Kong on Mar 21 and Apr 11.

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Next is a 54-year-old man who arrived on Aug 15 from Germany and tested positive after developing symptoms on his third day in quarantine at Sheraton hotel in Tung Chung.

He received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine in Hong Kong on Apr 22 and May 13.

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Third is the 21-year-old male seafarer from Malaysia who was found infected on his arrival test two days after getting his second BioNTech jab in Malaysia. His first dose was given on Jul 25. He is asymptomatic.

Fourth is a 23-year-old woman from Turkey who is asymptomatic and had two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine in Indonesia, on Jun 29 and Jul 20.

The baby arrived from Bangladesh on Aug 9 and developed symptoms of Covid-19 six days later while in quarantine at Silka Far East Hotel in Tsuen Wan. His specimen sample tested positive yesterday.

The Centre for Health Protection said that the five new cases took the total tally for Covid-19 in Hong Kong to 12,047.