FDHs & other residents told to avoid gathering over the holidays

By The SUN 

FDHs are advised not to gather, share food and keep their masks on when in public places

The Labour Department has reminded foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to comply with social distancing measures which the government extended today for a further 14 days, or until Feb 17.

Labour said the advisory was issued ahead of the statutory three-day Chinese New Year holidays which starts tomorrow, Feb. 1.

In a separate advisory, the government also advised other residents to stay at home instead of having cross-family gatherings.

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“Although the Chinese New Year is a traditional festival for celebration among relatives and friends, we hope that citizens may stay at home as far as possible and avoid gatherings among families in order to protect public health," the statement said.

Current restrictions prohibit the gathering in public of more than four people, and require the wearing of face masks in all public venues, indoor and outdoors.

No dine-in at restaurants is allowed after 6pm, and most entertainment or leisure venues such as gyms, bars, cinemas, museums, libraries and sports facilities have been closed.

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Labour says FDHs must also avoid gathering in boarding houses and the sharing of food.

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

Failure to comply with the gathering restrictions will make an offender liable to pay a fixed penalty of $5,000. Organizers of gatherings held in violation of the restrictions may be ordered to pay a fine of up to $25,000.

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During the holidays, Labour said it will conduct mobile broadcasts in multiple languages at popular FDH gathering places across the territory to urge the public to comply with relevant requirements.

The mobile announcements will be carried out in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Home Affairs Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

The targeted areas are the Chater Road precinct and Edinburgh Place in Central, Tamar Park in Admiralty, Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, the footbridge near Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, Lai Chi Kok Park and other favorite haunts of FDHs.

The statement said relevant departments will take enforcement action those who still refuse to abide by the regulations after repeated reminders.

The evening dine-in ban is extended until Feb 17

Meanwhile, the two-week extension of the gathering restrictions from Feb 4 to 17 was gazetted today, according to a separate press statement from the government.

The decision to extend the restrictions which Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Jan 27, is meant to prevent a mass outbreak of Covid-19 cases by reducing the number of people out on the streets.

"Hong Kong has been continuously recording cases with unknown sources, and samples collected in various districts under sewage surveillance for the COVID-19 virus have tested positive. This shows the existence of silent transmission chains in the community,” said the statement.

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Labour also appealed to all FDHs to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves and others. The vaccination is free to all residents, including FDHs.

For booking and details, please visit the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).

FDHs and employers who have any enquiries on employment matters may call the dedicated FDH hotline of the Labour Department at 2157 9537 (manned by 1823), by email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk or through the online form on the dedicated portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk).

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CE to skip Olympics opening as local spread of coronavirus continues

 By Daisy CL Mandap

 

CE Lam worries about the local spread of Covid-19, with many cases unlinked

Chief Executive Carrie Lam says she has cancelled plans to travel to Beijing for Friday’s opening of the 2022 Winter Olympics, as the number of locally acquired Covid-19 cases continues to rise.

The Centre for Health Protection announced 92 new confirmed infections on the eve of the Lunar New Year, with 80 of them local transmissions, and the 12 others imported.

Thirteen of the cases are untraceable, reinforcing fears that many silent transmissions of the virus are going on in the community.

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Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, CE Lam said she decided to forego attending the opening ceremonies for the Olympics as the city’s pandemic situation has “reversed,” meaning there are more local cases now than imported ones.

CE Lam called the press briefing to reveal the results of an investigation she ordered into whether any of the 15 government officials who attended the Jan 3 party of Natioal People’s Congress deputy Witman Hung had violated health protocols.

Before she spoke, Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui tendered his resignation and the CE accepted it.

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Tsui was one of two officials who stayed on at the party after 9:30pm, when an infected guest arrived. He admitted to not wearing a mask when he talked to other guests.

Caspar Tsui has resigned after being found to have violated gathering restrictions

Two other officials, Allen Fung and Vincent Fung, were given warnings for their behavior.

Meanwhile, the CHP reminded residents to keep pouring water into their toilet drains to prevent possible transmission within their residential blocks.

CHP’s Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said, “We are now seeing more horizontal and vertical transmissions. In a densely populated place like Hong Kong this is inevitable.”

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However, she said this can be avoided if people poured water regularly into the U-trap drains in their flats especially if their windows are closed, to prevent virus-laden air from spreading to other units through these routes.

Among the buildings where environmental contamination is suspected are:

 - Hong Tim House in Tsz Hong Estate, where 6 units are affected;

 - On Kwai House in Kwai Fuk Court where 8 units are affected and all residents living in 08 flats from 1st to 4th floor need to be evacuated

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- Kwai Yan House in Kwai Fong Estate where 6 units above the 14^th floor need to be evacuated

- Ming Lai House in Choi Wan II Estate where three 05 units on the 10^th floor are affected

- There could also be transmissions at Tsui Wo House in Tai Wo Estate, and the CHP has gone there to investigate.

Cases involving both the Omicron and Delta variants are being found across the city

New clusters of infection have also been detected, including four confirmed and one preliminary positive case at the Shatin Methodist College. Twelve people work together there, and those who have not been infected will be moved to a quarantine centre.

Another three people working at the Bank of China in Trend Plaza in Tuen Mun also tested positive. Chuang said the patients ate together.

Of the 13 cases classified as unlinked, two involved the Delta variant and 10, the Omicron. A sample from the last one has yet to be taken and tested.

The two Delta patients involved a 45-year-old man who works in a kitchen at Lok Fu Plaza and lives in Choi Wan Estate. The other is a 69-year-old retiree who lives in Choi Fung Estate.

The Omicron carriers included a worker at the third runway at Hong Kong Airport and lives at Shek Lei Estate II. Two of his colleague tested preliminary positive, so about 20 other workers there will be moved to Penny’s Bay.

Three people working in Po Lam Estate in Tseung Kwan O have also tested positive. Two are confirmed cases while one is preliminary positive.

The other cases involved a wide cross-section of the population. There was a 50-year-old homeless woman with a registered address in Sham Shui Po, a 9-year-old who lives in To Kwa Wan, and various people who live in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Fong, Fanling, Kwai Ching and North Point.

About 95 preliminary positive cases have so far been detected, including a worker at an elderly home in Fung Yam House in Sheng Kung Hui. Some residents there may need to be evacuated.

The city’s confirmed infection case now stands at 14,197, with 213 related deaths.

According to Dr Lau Ka-hin of the Hospital Authority, a total of 1,031 patients are still receiving treatment in the three government infection control centers as well as public hospitals. 

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Mag-Barkadahan na! Pinaka-Bonggang network ng mga OFW sa Hong Kong!

 

Pindutin para  malaman iba pang mga offers sa Barkadahan.

Ano ba ang dapat tingnan sa isang mobile SIM network?

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Ginawa nila ito para talaga sa mga OFW para mas mapagaan ang buhay nila dahil alam ng SmarTone na ito sa isang paraan kung paano maka-connect sa mga pamilya sa Pinas. Nandiyan ang IDD pang tawag, pasa load, internet para laging updated sa lahat ng bagay at higit sa lahat ang makapag-Facebook, instant messaging, video call at marami pang iba.

Buhay talaga ng OFW ay nakasalalay sa internet. Sabi nga nila, kung kilay is life, internet is love life! At dahil nga diyan, may promo ngayon na $96 lang ang 2 months internet kapag bumili ng bagong SIM card o pag nilipat mo iyong number galing sa ibang network.

Yes! Pwede mo ilipat iyong number galing sa iba at same number pa rin. Punta ka lang sa Barkadahan shop 159 WWH Central o shop 7 G/F Lik Sang Plaza Tsuen Wan o sa mga promoters sa mga suking Pinoy tindahan sa HK.

Ang offer na ito ay dapat mag install ng MY SIM Account app at mag register VIP pag activate ng SIM.

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At pag Birthday mo naman, may surprise gift ka!

Madaming mga regalo ang inihanda para sa mga subscribers. Kaya dapat tuluy tuloy ang gamit ng SIM para tuluy tuloy din ang mga Freebies at regalo. Ito ang kagandahan kapag stick to one ka lang sa SIM network. May mga bonggang regalo o mga pa ayuda lalo na sa panahon ngayon ng pandemya.

Paano ba mag VIP sa Barkadahan at makuha mga Freebies at ayuda?

Madali lang! Mag install ng My SIM Account App para masa madali niyong i-manage ang inyong SIM card. Kung wala pa kayong app, magdownload at install muna o i-press ang https://wap.smartone.com/bssapp/.

I-open My SIM Account App, i-press yung 3 lines (menu) sa upper left corner ng app, i-select ang Profile at mag register para maging VIP. Sundan lang mga steps hanggat umabot ka sa Congratulations at registered ka na. Simula na yan para ikaw ay makatanggap ng mga regalo.

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Labour Secretary says high infection rate led to flight ban on Phl

By The SUN

 

Law says it's uncertain if the situation in the Phl will ease enough for the ban to be lifted (file)

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong says the number of foreign domestic helpers entering Hong Kong may rise by 50% next month when the compulsory quarantine for all new arrivals is shortened to 14 days from the current 21 days.

Writing in his blog Sunday, Law said that the projected increase in the number of FDH arrivals is also due to an additional 491 hotel rooms set aside for them in two new designated quarantine facilities, O’Hotel in To Kwa Wan and iclub Hotel in Ma Tau Wai.

He said the twin measures will likely ease the severe shortage of FDHs in the territory. From about 400,000 in January 2020 just before the pandemic hit, the total FDH population dipped to 339,000 by the end of December last year.

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But he hinted it is not likely that helpers from the Philippines will be among those who could immediately take advantage of the relaxed entry restrictions. 

He recalled that a flight ban was imposed on the Philippines and seven other countries on Jan 8, as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus raged around the world. He said the number of cases in the Philippines skyrocketed during this time, “doubling every two to three days.”

In early January, he said only 175 Filipino helpers arrived in Hong Kong, but 79 tested positive during the same period, a “shocking” rate of over 40%.

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Thus on Jan. 6 or two days before the flight ban was imposed, he said all five direct flights from the Philippines had already been suspended for two weeks in line with Hong Kong’s “circuit breaker” mechanism.

He said the number of confirmed cases in the Philippines peaked at about 35,000 cases per day on Jan. 18. “Although it has dropped by about one-third since, it is hard to predict whether this will continue or when it will drop to a level low enough for flights to resume,” he said.

Comparatively, he said the epidemic situation in Indonesia deteriorated more slowly than in the Philippines, but is getting worse.However, flights from Indonesia continue.

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Law warned Hong Kong must remain vigilant in guarding against imported cases.

"It can be imagined that tens of thousands of families in Hong Kong are having difficulty in taking care of their family members without the support from foreign domestic helpers. But to avoid overwhelming the public healthcare system, we have to be careful in preventing imported cases," he said.

His blog post came amid a further drop in the number of cases in the Philippines. On Sunday, a total of 16,953 cases were reported across the country of 110 million people. 

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The highest single-day tally in the country was on Jan 15, when 39,004 cases were recorded.

Meanwhile, Indonesia, which has double the Philippines' population, recorded 11,588 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, the highest single-day increase since August last year, when the country struggled with the spread of the Delta variant. 

Earlier this month, the number of cases was at a low three digits.

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Vaccinated travelers may skip quarantine when entering Phl from Feb 1

By The SUN

The same rules will apply to fully vaccinated foreigners from Feb. 10, 2022

From Tuesday, Feb 1, all fully vaccinated Filipinos entering the Philippines will no longer be required to spend their quarantine in a hotel but should only self-monitor for the next seven days.

The same rule will be extended to foreign nationals entering the country starting on Feb 10.

All that the vaccinated inbound travelers should do is present a negative result for a RT-PCR (swab) test taken within 48 hours before boarding their flights to the Philippines, plus a recognized vaccination certificate.

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The following vaccination records are recognized in the Philippines: (1) a WHO International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis; 2) VaxCertPH or (3) national/state digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted the VaxCertPH under a reciprocal agreement (like the HK vaccination record) unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.

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Those who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unclear will have to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before boarding, and stay in a quarantine facility until the release of their negative result for a RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day of their arrival.

In addition, they will have to undergo home quarantine until the 14^th day with the date of arrival being the first day. They will be monitored by local government units and barangay health response teams in their destination while they are undergoing home quarantine.

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No monitoring is required for vaccinated new arrivals, but they are required to report to the local government unit of destination should they show any symptoms.

According to the Department of Health, the move was agreed upon by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19 control because of the country’s improved vaccination rate and also because this has now become the norm in many countries abroad.

The move is also seen to hasten economic recovery.

There will be no more testing upon arrival at any Philippine airport

The new protocols replace the existing color-coded classification, where so-called green countries were deemed low risk, yellow countries medium risk, and red countries, high risk.

Until restrictions were tightened recently with the onset of the Omicron variant, only travelers from green places like Hong Kong were allowed to skip quarantine.

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The new guidelines disregard a traveler's country of origin and distinguish only between those who are vaccinated and those who are not, or have unclear vaccination status.

The relaxed rules are due to take effect as the number of Covid-19 cases reported in the country continued to decline Sunday, but remained at a critical level.

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The Department of Health said 16,953 additional coronavirus infections were detected today, although there were 27,638 new recoveries. Twenty more deaths were reported.

The total number of cases recorded in the country so far has gone up to 3,545,680, of which  202,864 are active cases.

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Warning against family gatherings as 81 new Covid-19 cases found

By The SUN

Chuang says 2 family gatherings last Sunday ended in 20 people getting Covid-19

Two days before the start of the Lunar New Year, an official of the Centre for Health Protection has reiterated a warning against family gatherings involving different households, which is a common local practice at this time of the year.

Speaking at today’s press conference where she announced that 81 new Covid-19 cases were detected overnight, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said two cross-family gatherings held on Jan.23 each involving a dozen or so people, resulted in 10 attendees getting infected in each group.

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However, she declined to give any more details, saying she wished to just give an example of what could happen in such settings.

“This coming Lunar New Year, I understand many families would like to get together. I just want to say, be careful especially if there are elderly people involved or some people are not vaccinated. There may be some complications,” she warned.

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The same warning has been issued repeatedly by other health officials, particularly the Secretary for Health Prof Sophia Chan.

More than 1,000 patients are now confined at various public hospitals across HK

Meanwhile, Hospital Authority chief manager Dr Sara Ho also warned about the rise in the number of people getting hospitalized for Covid-19.

She said the number of people confined in various infection units and public hospitals has now climbed to 1,002, although all are in stable condition.

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The number of patients getting discharged each day continues to be just a fraction of the daily hospital intake. In the past 24 hours only 23 patients were discharged while 120 people were confirmed positive for the coronavirus yesterday.

Dr Chuang said that of the 81 new cases, 77 were locally acquired while four were imported. Among the local cases 62 were linked to previous infections while 15 are unlinked.

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About 70 preliminary positive cases have been reported.

While no new cases were detected in units not previously associated with a positive case in Kwai Chung Estate, Chuang said a cluster of cases has emerged from three housing blocks. These are  Yau Lai Estate in Yau Tong and Shek Yam East Estate in Kwai Chung and Tivoli Gardens in Tsing Yi.

A number of units had to be evacuated in each of these housing blocks where environmental contamination is suspected to have occurred.

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Of today’s 15 unlinked cases, the majority involved the Omicron variant, and the rest, Delta.

Dr Chuang said they live in various places, including Tsz Wan Shan and Wong Tai Sin for the Delta cases; and Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Kwai Ching, Tai Wo Hau, Sha Tin, Tai Po, To Kwa Wan, Tung Chung and Kwun Tong for Omicron carriers.

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Filipino who allegedly threatened to burn down Consulate arrested

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Security has been tightened at the Consulate after the man's arrest

A Filipino male resident had to spend the night at the Central Police station on Monday, Jan 24, after he was arrested for threatening staff at the Philippine Consulate and pushing one of them to the ground as he was being subdued after brandishing a golf club.

Hong Kong Police said the man is 41 years old and a resident. He was arrested on suspicion of committing common assault and possessing an offensive weapon but was released on police bail.

A spokesman said no charges have been filed yet as investigations are continuing.

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According to an officer of the Consulate who asked not to be named for security reasons, part of the bail conditions imposed on the arrested person is that he should not approach any of their staff and should not enter the Consulate premises.

The officer also said more charges could be laid against the accused as they had filed a separate complaint against him after he allegedly threatened to burn down the Consulate and kill staff during calls he made to their listed number.

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He said the Consulate has already turned over to the police the CCTV footage taken during the alleged assault and the audio recordings of his threatening phone calls.  

In his calls, the man reportedly said “papatayin ko kayo” (I will kill all of you), after saying he would burn down the Consulate.

The ATN section used to be accesible to the public (file)

Police say the accused arrived at the Consulate at about 10:30am on Jan 24, brandishing a golf club which measured 77 cm in length. They received a phone call from one of the staff after the man allegedly started wielding the club and threatening staff.

Consulate insiders said the man arrived with not just a golf club but also his baby. After handing the baby to one of the people inside the premises, he started swinging the golf club while making threats. 

Several male staff managed to subdue him, but only after one of them was pushed to the ground by the suspect.

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According to the officer, the man had been agitated because of a long-running dispute with his wife who has already gone home to the Philippines.

After the Consulate was asked to intervene, the wife reportedly promised to file a petition for annulment in the Philippines but failed to do so because of a lack of funds.

The man reportedly vented his ire over this at the Consulate’s ATN section, saying they should have made sure his estranged wife kept her promise.

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“We told him repeatedly that we did not have the power nor the right to compel his wife to file for annulment,” said the officer. “All we could do is advise them on how they could resolve their marital dispute.”

“Hindi niya maintindihan o ayaw intindihin ang ganoong paliwanag. Pinilipit niya na dapat sabihan namin ang asawa niya na ituloy ang pag file ng annulment.”

(He couldn’t, or wouldn’t understand what we kept telling him. He kept insisting that we should tell his wife to pursue the filing of an application for annulment).

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As a result of the incident, security has been tightened at the Consulate, with all visitors to the closed-off ATN section being barred entry unless they have provided their personal details and the purpose of their visit at one of the windows in the public area.

“We have to protect not only the Consulate and our staff but also members of our community who come to us for services and assistance,” said the officer. 

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