FDHs told to get tested as required and stay at home ‘as far as possible’

By Daisy CL Mandap 

The Labour advisory was issued after 4 Indonesian workers tested positive for Covid-19

The Labour Department has reminded foreign domestic helpers subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing as soon as possible and to stay at home on their rest days “as far as possible.”

The advisory was issued late on Friday, Dec 7, after health officials confirmed that a second Indonesian domestic helper linked to a dance cluster in Causeway Bay, tested positive for Covid-19.

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Two more Indonesian helpers who attended church services at Bethel Fellowship Limited on Watson Road, North Point on Jan 2 along with the two infected women, tested preliminary positive.

A compulsory testing notice has been issued for all those who were at the church between 1pm and 10:30pm on Jan 2 to get tested by today, Jan 7, then Jan 8, 9, 12, 17 and 24.

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A CTN was also issued for residents of Rialto Mansion at 183 King’s Road in North Point where the first infected helper had rested at a boarding house run by the church on Jan 4.

Those who were present at the building between 12 noon and 11pm on that day have been ordered to get tested by today, then Jan 8, 11, 16 and 23.

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In its advisory, Labour repeated a controversial appeal for FDWs to remain at their employers’ homes on their rest days.

"We remind FDHs to strictly observe the requirements and appeal to them to avoid gatherings (including in boarding facilities), food sharing and other social activities on their rest days and holidays and stay at home for rest as far as possible in order to safeguard their personal health and reduce the risk of infection,” said the advisory.

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At the same time, the Department said it was encouraging “employers and FDHs to discuss rest day arrangements, so as to minimise the health risk of participating in social activities."

In the past, workers groups had complained about employers taking this to mean that they could make their helpers stay at home on their rest days.

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But Labour said in its advisory:  “Employers are reminded that they must not compel their FDHs to work on a rest day. An employer who compels his or her FDH to work on a rest day without the agreement of the FDH, or fails to grant rest days to the FDH, is in breach of the Employment Ordinance and is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000.”

It added that in line with the standard employment contracts for FDHs, employers must provide their helpers with “free, suitable and furnished accommodation.

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Failure to comply with this requirement, or of knowingly furnishing false information to immigration as regards this in the course of a visa application, may result in an employer being denied an application to employ an FDH, said the advisory.

Labour also reminded FDWs subject to CTNs that they are required to undergo the multiple tests on time as required, and for their employers to allow them to go out for the required tests.

The testing requirement covers even those who have been fully vaccinated.

Most of those covered by compulsory testing orders on a church and boarding house are FDWs

Labour said it has disseminated related information through various channels, including the consulates-general of countries that send FDWs to Hong Kong, employers groups and employment agency associations.

Those covered by CTNs can undergo the tests at community testing centres or mobile specimen collection stations. Details of the compulsory testing can be found in the Government’s announcements (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html)."

The advisory said anyone who fails to comply with a CTN commits an offence and may be ordered to pay a fixed penalty of $5,000. 

A compulsory testing order will also be issued to the offender which should be complied with within the specified time. Failure to abide by the order would make the offender liable to a further fine of up to $25,000 and imprisonment for a maximum period of six months.

The fixed penalty of $5,000 may also be imposed on those who take part in public gatherings of more than four people, or fail to wear a mask in public places.

Labour said that every Sunday this month, a team from various government departments and the police will conduct mobile broadcasts at popular FDW gathering places such as Central, Tamar Park in Admiralty, Victoria Park in Causeway Bay and Lai Chi Kok Park to remind the workers to comply with regulations.

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170 people at party attended by top officials to be quarantined

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Chuang says more people from the party will be sent to quarantine
after another guest tested preliminary positive

About 170 people who joined the birthday party of a delegate to the National People’s Congress, including several top government officials, will all be sent to Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre, according to various reports.

This was after the Centre for Health Protection disclosed in its regular press briefing today, Jan. 7, that another guest at the party, described by officials as 53-year-old media worker, has tested preliminary positive for Covid-19.

A 37-year-old woman who was also at the birthday party of Witman Hung held a Reserva Iberico tapas bar in Wanchai, was today confirmed to have the coronavirus. She works at a teahouse in Central and lives in Serene Court in Tin Hau.

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After she tested preliminary positive yesterday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui would be sent to quarantine for being at the party at the same time as the woman, who was said to have arrived at 9:30pm.

Immigration Director Au Ka-wing issued a statement today to admit his presence at the banquet, and announce that he, too, would be quarantined at Penny’s Bay for 21 days.

Also being sent there are financial services chief Christopher Hui, police chief Raymond Siu, as well as 19 lawmakers.

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CHP’s Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said that initially, arrangements were made for 60 of the partygoers who were present at the designated time, to be sent to quarantine.

However, after it was established that the second infected woman had been there between 6-8pm and went back at around 9pm, more people would be classified as close contacts and sent to quarantine.

The party cluster also widened today, after another woman with links to case no 12838, the first infected guest, also tested preliminary positive. The 32-year-old woman was said to have gone to a products expo at Victoria Park with the first infected person, who is her colleague.

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The emerging cluster was linked by Chuang to the unvaccinated mother of a Cathay flight attendant who caught the virus from her daughter, then spread it to 13 other people as of the latest count.

Chuang said the 62-year-old woman had infected the mother of the party guest when they danced together in Causeway Bay on New Year’s eve.

Chuang said a second Indonesian domestic helper also tested positive for Covid-19 after attending a church service in Tin Hau along with another helper who was infected by the elderly woman who visited her employer’s house in Causeway Bay.

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Today, two more Indonesian domestic workers who attended the same church ceremony tested preliminary positive, said Chuang.

Around 70 people who were at the church service are now classified as close contacts and will be quarantined.

Also among the preliminary cases was the four-year-old daughter of the surveyor in Tuen Mun who was found to have dined in the same restaurant in Tin Hau as the dancing ladies.

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The girl last went to her kindergarten school in Tuen Mun on Tuesday. Some teachers and 35 students in her class have been sent to a quarantine centre while other students and teachers will have to undergo compulsory testing.

CHP said it has yet to trace the source of one preliminary positive case involving a 58-year-old woman who had been different supermarkets across the city as part of her job. She has also visited Wan Chai Market and the brands expo in Victoria Park.

She lives at Lee Shun Building in Wan Chai.

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The additional imported cases include 7 more from the Philippines 

Chuang said there were 33 additional cases confirmed as of midnight last night. Twenty-six were imported, while five were locally transmitted.

Four were linked to the dance cluster and one to the Moon Palace lunch on Dec 27 which was set off by another Cathay aircrew who flouted quarantine rules.

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The case linked to the lunch cluster involved a woman who is believed to have been infected after her flat in Ma On Shan was entered on Dec 29 by a renovation worker who had eaten at Moon Palace.

Meanwhile, the imported cases involve seven arrivals from the Philippines, eight from France, Finland and the United Kingdom via Doha, and one flight crewman from Germany.

CHP’s controller Eric Tsui said Hong Kong has detected 140 Omicron cases so far.

He likened the spread of the highly infectious variant to a “tsunami” which could only be stopped if people stopped unnecessary gatherings and strictly follow health protocols.

Tsui reminded those who were made to undergo compulsory testing not to relax after testing negative the first time, as “it could take one or two tests for the virus to be picked up.”

He also appealed to those who had been to places identified as high risk to get themselves tested immediately.

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Home Affairs chief to be quarantined after close contact with Covid-19 patient

By Daisy CL Mandap 

CE Lam says she is disappointed with her officials who attended the banquet

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has said in an unscheduled press briefing Thursday that Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui will be sent to Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre after being identified as a close contact of a guest at a banquet who has tested preliminary positive for Covid-19.

A stern-looking Mrs Lam also revealed that at least 10 of her senior officials had joined Tsui at the event where about 100 people were present.

Among the other officials she mentioned were financial services chief Christopher Hui, police commissioner Raymond Siu, ICAC head Simon Peh and Director of Immigration Au Ka-wang.

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The Development Bureau confirmed later on Thursday night that its political assistant, Allen Fung, was also identified as a close contact and will be sent to the quarantine centre.

The CE said she was “highly disappointed” that so many officials had attended a large-scale gathering amid the pandemic.

"I am in particular disappointed with the home affairs secretary, Caspar Tsui," she said.

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"Principal officials or other senior officials of the SAR government have to perform their respective duties in observing the rules promulgated by the Food and Health Bureau, and also watch out their own behaviour," she said.

"They should not be engaged in activities which will carry risks and create more work for the CHP (Centre for Health Protection) and make things more complicated.”

She added the Civil Service Bureau was contacting other civil servants to see if they had been to the event.

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After her statement Tsui and Fung both apologized over the incident in separate statements on social media, and said they were taking full responsibility.

The event was hosted by NPC delegate Witman Hung (RTHK File)

The host of the banquet, Witman Hung a local delegate to the National People’s Congress, also said sorry through a Facebook post, adding his guests were all vaccinated and had used the LeaveHomeSafe app.

Hung said the guest who tested preliminary positive didn't eat at the event, and she was there between 9.30pm and 10.15pm when most guests had already left.

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Reports said the party which was held at a restaurant in Wanchai, was held to celebrate Hung’s birthday.

In response to a question on why she was disappointed with her officials who had attended the event, she pointed out that the occasion was held in the evening of Jan 3, days after she had warned people about the possible spread of the Omicron variant in the community.

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“And very specifically, the Secretary for Food and Health held a press conference on New Year's Eve, December 31, after a meeting I chaired. She came out to explain the situation that we were in, and she said that she wanted to give four pieces of advice to the people of Hong Kong,” she said.

“One of the pieces of advice is to avoid mass gatherings, and also to avoid taking off your mask and avoid taking photos without mask on when you were on such an occasion. My colleagues, apparently, have not taken the advice of the Secretary for Food and Health, how could they set a good example for the people of Hong Kong?”

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However, she said a distinction should be drawn between those who spent the whole night at the event and thus put themselves in a highly risky situation that require them to be quarantined, and those who just dropped by to say hello and greet the host.

The CE said officials who were at the function would be asked to show proof that they had left the venue before 9:30pm so they would not be deemed as possible close contacts of the infected guest.

She mentioned entries in the LeaveHomeSafe app and testimonies from the officials’ chauffeurs as possible proof of the time of their stay at the venue, which other reports said was a restaurant in Wanchai.

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2nd Indon DH linked to Omicron carrier as CX flight from Cebu banned

By The SUN 

An overnight lockdown of this Tin Hau block linked to a local case with mutant strain yielded no new case

An Indonesian domestic helper who was infected with Covid-19 by her employer’s friend was among 33 additional confirmed cases reported by the Centre for Health Protection today, Jan 6.

Her fellow Indonesian DH with whom she joined church services on Jan 1 and 2 also tested preliminary positive.

Health authorities are now tracking about 80 other people who were at the church at the same time.

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At today’s press briefing, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said the case is worrying.

“We’re tracing the churchgoers on Jan. 1 and 2. That amounts to tens of people so we’re a bit worried because they might have already spread the infections to their employers and other friends,” she said.

Meanwhile, of the 28 imported cases, 11 had flown in from the Philippines on two separate dates.

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Five of them, all Filipina domestic workers, came aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX932 from Cebu City, and tested positive on arrival at HK airport on Jan. 4. The flight was meted a two-week suspension as a result.

Six came on AirAsia’s flight ZZ1264 from Manila on Jan 2, bringing to 20 the total number of infected passengers from that trip. All except one are FDHs. The flight was immediately banned as nine of its passengers tested positive on arrival.

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Cathay’s flight CX906 from Manila was also earlier banned for flying in a number of infected passengers on Jan. 1. The infection tally from that flight has reached 20.

However, all the flight bans have been superseded by Hong Kong's decision to stop all passengers flights from eight countries for two weeks starting on Saturday, Jan 8. Covered by the ban apart from the Philippines are Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, United Kingdom and United States.

CX932 is the second Cathay flight from the Philippines to be banned by HK

The other imported cases are broken down as follows:

            - 5 from Nepal, and arrived on Nepal Airlines’ flight RA 409 on Jan 4. The flight has been banned for two weeks as a result.

- 5 from India, arriving on Air India’s flight AY1314 on Jan 2. The flight was banned previously for bringing in a number of infected passengers on arrival.

            - 1 Case is from Australia     

          

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  - 1 Case is from Portugal

- 1 Case is from Switzerland

- 1 Case is from Canada - Arrived on AC 007 Jan 2

- 1 Case is from France

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Apart from the Indonesian DH who was infected by her employer, three other local cases confirmed today had links with the 28-year-old female Cathay flight attendant who went home to North Point after testing negative on arrival in Hong Kong on Dec 27, and went on to infect her 62-year-old unvaccinated mother and another relative.

The new cases include a woman who regularly danced in Victoria Park with the flight attendant’s mother, the elderly woman’s friend she had breakfast with in a teahouse in Tin Hau on Dec 31, and the husband of another friend.

Dr Chuang said there were about 20 other people who were at the Six Garden Restaurant on Gordon Road between 8and 10am on Dec 31, where the woman and her friends had breakfast.

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About 10 of those diners have not been located, and Chuang asked them to contact CHP at is hotline, 2125 1111 by tomorrow. Those who refuse to step forward may be prosecuted.

Chuang also said there were also a number of preliminary positive cases who appear to be linked to the flight attendant’s mother, apart from the second Indonesian helper who lives in Tai Po.

They include a 67 year-old-woman who resides at Fung Fai Terrace in Happy Valley, who attended a meal gathering with about 15 of her dancing friends on Jan 1. She then went to Wong Nai Chung market and had dinner at Outback Steak House.

A third linked case is a 73-year-old woman previously identified as a close contact of the dancing woman and was sent to Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre on Jan 4. She developed a headache earlier today, and was diagnosed as preliminary positive.

A fourth case involves a 63-year-old man who dined at Ocean Lafayette in Causeway Bay at about the same time as the woman. He started to feel unwell on Jan 3 and saw a doctor on Jan 4.

Another diner at Moon Palace Restaurant where another Cathay aircrew who flouted quarantine regulations was also among those confirmed with Covid-19 today.

For more information on today’s cases, check: https://www.info.gov.hk/.../202201/06/P2022010600765.htm

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Stricter social distancing measures take effect tomorrow

By The SUN

Patrons of a Central restaurant enjoy late-night dining before the new rules kick in

No more dine-in after 6pm. Bars, karaokes, amusement parks, gyms, massage parlors, swimming pools, bathhouses, barbecue pits, will all be shut.

These are among the stricter gathering restrictions that will take place starting tomorrow, Jan 7, as part of the government’s efforts to contain the continuing spread of the coronavirus with mutant strains inside the community.

The new measures will last for 14 days, or until Jan. 20, unless the government decides to extend them further.

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However, the rule that allows up to four people to gather in public will remain. They can also still eat together in a category B restaurant, which means 75% of staff should have at least one dose of Covid vaccine.

As before, everyone who enters eateries will be required to use the LeaveHomeSafe mobile application before being allowed entry. Mask-wearing in public will also remain in place.

A statement from the Food and Health Bureau said restaurants or catering businesses should conform with the following regulations:

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1)            They should stop selling or supplying food or drink for consumption in their premises from 6pm to 4.59am of the subsequent day. However, they may still sell or supply food and/or drink for takeaway services and deliveries. A notice should be put up reminding customers that they should not eat or drink in areas adjacent to the restaurant.

2)            The maximum number of persons per table for catering premises under Types B, C and D Modes of Operation will be reduced to two, four and six respectively, whereas the maximum number of customers per premises and per banquet will remain unchanged.

3)            No live performance and dancing activity, karaoke or mahjong tin-kau activity  will be allowed inside restaurants.

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4)            Other requirements and restrictions on catering premises will remain in force, including requiring customers not to eat or drink and must wear a mask when they are away from the table.

5)            All customers who dine in must use the LeaveHomeSafe app in scanning the venue’s QR code. Those who buy food for takeaway are excluded

6)            There should be a distance of at least 1.5 meters or an effective partition of some form between tables.  

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7)            Body temperature screening must be conducted before the person is allowed to enter the catering premises and hand sanitizers must be provided.

Also to be shut in line with the new measures announced yesterday by Chief Executive Carrie Lam are venues 

run by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD).

Lifeguard services at public beaches will be halted again

These include holiday camps, tennis courts, bowling greens, sports grounds, golf courses, skate parks, roller skating rings, hockey and skateboard grounds, outdoor playgrounds, walking trails, as well as indoor sports facilities such as squash and badminton centres. Lifeguard services at all public beaches will be suspended.

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All public libraries will be closed but their e-services will continue.

As announced by CE Lam, all schools will remain open and civil servants will not be required to work from home.

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The government statement warned that any violation of the gathering rules will make persons responsible for carrying on the catering premises or the banned premises liable to prosecution and if convicted, to pay a fine of up to $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

Customers who breach the requirements for group gathering or mask wearing may be liable to pay a fixed penalty of $5,000.

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