Cancer-stricken Filipina goes home with $45.5k donation

 By Daisy CL Mandap 

Cyril is the picture of happiness as she hugs her youngest daughter on her return home

She was a picture of both sadness and excitement as she took her final trip home from Hong Kong on Friday, Feb. 4.

Cyril S. Galvez, a former domestic worker who is suffering from late-stage cervical cancer, was taken straight from Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance to the airport, where she took the 4pm Cathay Pacific flight to Manila.

She spent one night at a five-star hotel in Manila before being flown on Saturday afternoon to Iloilo City, where she was met at the airport by her family, including her two young daughters and her partner.

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Cyril asked to be brought home directly so she could spend time with her family instead of checking in at the Western Visayas Medical Centre where she was referred to by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office in Hong Kong.

Before leaving Hong Kong, the visibly emaciated but excited Cyril took time to send a video message to everyone in the city who comforted her, and gave generously to help provide for her medical needs when she gets back to the Philippines.

“Maraming salamat po sa mga nagbigay ng financial na suporta at prayers para ako lumakas,” she said. (Thank you very much to all who gave financial support and offered prayers so I will regain strength).

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“Nandito ako ngayon sa airport at excited na akong makarating sa Pilipinas at makita ko na ang pamilya ko,” Cyril said. (I am now at the airport and I am very excited to go home to the Philippines so I can see my family).

OWWA nurse Josz takes a selfie with the group that sent Cyril off in HK

Two of her older sisters, Mary Grace Latorilla and Ma. Theresa Galvez, who are both domestic workers as well, were on hand to see her off, along with a friend.

According to Grace, a total donation of $45,526 was raised for Cyril in just six days, after the story of her plight was published in The SUN’s website and Facebook page.

One of the biggest donors was employer Vivian Wong who promptly gave $10,000 after her Filipina helper showed her the story on Cyril. A group of workers from their hometown of Calinog, Iloilo, also raised $6,640, after an appeal was issued by their leader, Joy Casiple.

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Grace’s own employer gave $2,000 while the group Social Justice for Migrant Workers led by Marites Palma gave $1,500. Another donor was a volleyball team which gave $600 and various friends who gave cash totaling $650.

But the bulk of the donations came from migrant workers who sent their donations to two Alipay accounts in the name of Grace and Theresa. The first had a total of $13,434 paid in, while the second had $10,702.

Grace kept tab of the donations to Cyril

One of the groups that sent its donation to Grace’s account was Global Filipinos in HK headed by another fellow Ilonggo, Leo Selomenio.

Also at Hong Kong Airport to assist Cyril was OWWA staff and nurse Joszoa Villa, who arranged for her ambulance transfer and escorted her through HK Immigration. A fellow migrant worker arranged by OWWA to accompany Cyril flew with her on the plane.

Cyril, who is due to celebrate her 36^th birthday on Feb 26, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in October, just a month after starting work with a new employer.

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Grace said her sister first learned she had stage 2 cervical cancer in March last year, and with the help and support of her former employer, she underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Thinking that she was well enough to continue working and providing for her two daughters aged 9 and 11, Cyril signed up with a new employer in September last year.

Grace tells her younger sister they'll see each other in Iloilo soon

Grace said Cyril suffered from so much stress adjusting to her new job that just a month later, she was told her cancer had returned.

Cyril struggled to get treated at the hospital while working, but only three months later, her employer decided to terminate their contract. Cyril was paid $7,000 and booked on a return trip to Manila and Iloilo on Jan. 16.

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But three days before her scheduled trip home, Cyril suffered severe stomach ache while in a boarding house, and was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. She was immediately operated on due to kidney malfunction.

She learned then that her cancer had worsened and had spread to other parts of her body. She was also told she needed to be discharged although she did not have any place to stay.

With OWWA’s help, Cyril was allowed to remain at the hospital until her flight home. The employment agency that placed her with her last employer was also asked to buy a new air ticket for Cyril, and for the escort who accompanied her on the flight home.

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Stay at home, says health chief, as HK posts record-high 351 new Covid-19 cases

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Top health officials give the grim news at today's press conference

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan has again called on the public to stay at home and avoid gathering as she reported an unprecedented 351 Covid-19 cases being detected in Hong Kong, the biggest number ever recorded since the pandemic began two years ago.

All but eight of the new cases were locally acquired, and officials are still tracing the source of more than 160 cases. More than 200 preliminary positive cases have been reported.

Speaking at today’s press conference, Chan said “the situation is indeed, very worrying,” as she reported multiple spread of the virus in various buildings, either vertically, horizontally, or from person to person.

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She said the government is embarking on a number of initiatives to respond to the growing crisis, but needs the help of everyone to stop the spread of the virus.

“Our contact tracing, our testing and also other measures are already taking effect, but we are running as fast as we can in order to compete with the speed of the virus, therefore everybody’s help is necessary and is being called for.”

Apart from the fresh initiatives already announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam yesterday, Chan said the government has drawn up measures that will further cut down the number of people gathering, though these will still need the approval of the Executive Council.

Among the measures being proposed is to limit the use of certain venues, including public transportation, to those who are vaccinated.

Already in the pipeline are various contingency measures that will be put in place if the surge in confirmed cases continues, overwhelming hospitals.

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These include converting Penny’s Bay into a “community quarantine facility” where confirmed patients with mild or no symptoms will be sent. From next week, all close contacts currently staying at the facility will be moved in phases so the camp could begin taking in confirmed patients.

Household contacts of close contacts will be allowed to stay at home for 4 days, provided certain criteria are met. They will be required to wear tracking bracelets and undergo tests using the antigen kits during specified dates, and provide updates on their medical condition.

If the conditions worsen, even close contacts will be allowed to undergo home quarantine for 14 days, under the same conditions.

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They will not be allowed to entertain guests and must obtain their food and supplies on their own. A team from the Home Affairs Department could provide help for patients who need extra care, or to help look for quarantine places if their flats are not suitable for isolation.

At the end of the 14 days they will only be allowed to go out if they test negative.

Dr Chan says the govt is doing all it can to stop the spread of the virus, but the public must help

The other measures Chan mentioned are the enhancement of the government’s testing capability to no less than 300,000 tests a day, distribution of rapid antigen testing kits to everyone in the city in lieu of mass testing, setting up a third group of experts that will do contact tracing, and stepping up the testing of sewage water in places where the virus is detected.

She advised everyone to get tested if they develop symptoms of Covid-19, are issued with a compulsory testing notice, or their place of residence is put under a lockdown.

Finally, she said everyone who is qualified to get a coronavirus vaccine must get a jab if they have not done so yet, for their own protection.

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Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection reported that of the 343 local cases detected today, 24 carried the L452R strain of the Delta variant, while the majority are suspected Omicron carriers.

She said among the new cases are six who all attended a religious service at a mosque in Sham Shui Po, and some cleaners, security guards and staff of several shops and restaurants in Yuen Long Plaza. Because of suspected transmission within the building, the CHP has recommended the closure of Yuen Long Plaza.

Residents in several housing blocks have been evacuated and moved to a quarantine centre also because of suspected transmissions. These inlcude those who live on the second floor of Hing Ping House, Tai Hing Estate in Tuen Mun, those in unit 6 on the 10th floor of Polam Estate in Tseung Kwan O, and those living in A and C units at 104 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po.

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Dr Lau Ka-hin, chief manager at the Hospital Authority said that as of 9am today, a total of 1,417 confirmed patients are being treated at infection control centers in North Lantau Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital and AsiaWorld Expo, and 14 public hospitals.

One patient, a 77-year-old unvaccinated woman with diabetes and other chronic illnesses, remains in critical condition while the rest are all stable.

Also attending today’s press conference were Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam and Hospital Authority Chief Executive Dr Tony Ko.

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Cats, dogs eyed as possible Covid-19 carriers

Pets like cats have been found positive for Covid-19.

The government is now turning its attention to warning against pet cats and dogs as possible carriers of Covid-19.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said two pet cats from Sheung Shui tested positive for Covid-19 and were sent to quarantine on Friday.

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The two cases, which have not shown symptoms of the disease, were among the five domestic short-hair cats sent to AFCD after their owners were separarely found to be close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case. The AFCD said it will continue to closely monitor the cats and conduct follow-up testing.

The latest cases brought to 10 the number of cats that have tested positive for the virus. Another nine dogs have also tested positive.

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As this developed, AFCD reminded pet owners to adopt good hygiene practices (including hand washing before and after being around or handling animals, their food or supplies, as well as avoiding kissing them) and to maintain a clean and hygienic household environment.

“People who have taken ill should restrict contact with animals. If any changes in the health condition of pets are spotted, advice from a veterinarian should be sought as soon as possible,” it added.

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But it also advised owners that “under no circumstances should they abandon their pets.”

Last Jan. 30, AFCD allowed most local pet shops selling hamsters to resume business after a clampdown was triggered by samples collected from the 'Little Boss' pet shop in Jardine's Bazaar, Causeway Bay, that tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

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Among the anti-Covid measures it adopted to safeguard public health was that all pet shops selling hamsters must suspend business, and these animals that tested positive be disposed of.

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"The AFCD has taken 1,134 samples from animals other than hamsters including rabbits, chinchillas and others; and 1,124 environmental swabs from all the concerned pet shops for the COVID-19 virus test. Test results of all the animal samples are confirmed negative,” it said. 

 

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HK records highest number of local Covid-19 cases

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

130 local cases were reported today, a record which could easily be beaten tomorrow

Health officials have again sounded alarm bells, after reporting that out of 131 new confirmed cases today, Jan 4, all but one were locally acquired.

The 130 local cases detected is the highest number on record. Of these, 59 are unlinked, which is another record high since the pandemic swept across Hong Kong two years ago.

When the biggest ever tally of 162 was recorded on Jan. 27, only 116 were local infections, and the remaining 48 cases were imported.

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The situation looks even more dire for tomorrow, with more than 195 people testing preliminary positive, according to the Centre for Health Protection.

Speaking at today’s press conference, CHP controller Dr Edwin Tsui said there are now 220 untraceable cases in the city, further fueling concerns that the number of infections could rise exponentially.

Tsui noted that in the past four days, more than 100 local cases were detected daily, and more and more of these infections are unlinked to previous infections.

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“The present situation, I think, is quite challenging, because there are more and more local cases we detect every day, and those without an obvious source, the percentage has been increasing quite rapidly,” he said.

He again appealed to people to avoid gathering, practice personal hygiene, keep their surroundings clean, stay away from high-risk places, and get vaccinated if they haven’t done so yet.

According to CHP’s Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, of the 130 local cases, three carried the Delta mutant strain, 121 are likely Omicron carriers, while tests on the remaining four are still pending.

All 59 unlinked cases all carry the Omicron strains, Chuang said.

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According to the Hospital Authority’s Dr Lau Ka-hin, a total of 1,408 confirmed patients are hospitalized in the various infection control centers and 13 public hospitals.

One patient, a 77-year-old woman, remains in critical condition while the rest are all stable.

Hui said the CHP has investigated over 20 different buildings where Omicron is suspected to have spread via sewage pipes or air vents.

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The latest to be inspected was Hing Ping House, Tai Hing Estate in Tuen Mun where 26 residents from 14 units have tested positive.

According to Chuang, some residents of the building will have to be moved to quarantine while the rest will be put under a second night of lockdown during which they will all be tested again.

Later this evening, the government announced lockdowns on several more buildings: Tower 1 of Yuk Ming Towers in Sai Ying Pun, Block 14 of Tsui Chuk Garden in Wong Tai Sin, and seven buildings in Sham Shui Po.

Sewage samples taken from these buildings were reportedly found to carry the coronavirus.

7 buildings in Sham Shui Po are under lockdown tonight (File)

Among today's unlinked cases, 10 live in different parts of Sham Shui Po, while the rest live in various districts. There is one case in Midvale in Discovery Bay and several more buildings in Tung Chung.

In Kowloon, the patients live in Ma Tau Wai, To Kwa Wan, Cheung Sha Wan and Shek Kip Mei, while on Hong Kong island, there are cases in Sheung Wan, Sai Wan Ho, Wanchai and Stanley.

In the New Territories, cases were detected in Tsuen Wan, Fo Tan, Tai Wai and Yuen Long.

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Asked for any contingency measures in cases hospitals are swamped with confirmed cases in the coming days, Tsui said the government may consider allowing home quarantine for positive patients with mild or no symptoms.

However, Chief Executive Carrie Lam later said there are plans to convert Penny’s Bay Quarantine Center into an isolation and treatment facility for Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.

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CE reveals plan to further tighten gathering restrictions

By The SUN 

CE Lam says among the measures being considered is to include public transport in the vaccine pass

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has unveiled a series of steps to counter the worsening pandemic situation in Hong Kong, including purchasing more than 10 million rapid antigen testing kits which will be distributed to all residents free of charge.

Speaking at a press conference late this afternoon, the CE said the plan is to allow more people to get tested in the comfort of their homes, without the need to queue up at testing centers.

She said taking the antigen test is voluntary, and no rules will be attached, such as providing a report on the outcome. The kits are expected to arrive as early as next week.

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In the past few days, government officials have been distributing the antigen kits to people in high-risk places, including those where the sewage sample has tested positive for coronavirus.

The CE also revealed that the Executive Council is set to consider stricter social distancing measures when it meets next week, but did not give details, saying policy matters are still subject to deliberation by councilors.

The plan is to further limit the number of people on the streets, after studies showed that far more people continue to go out and gather during the current wave of infections than they did during previous waves.

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CE Lam also said executive councilors are due to discuss the government's proposal to expand the planned "vaccine pass" arrangement to cover more premises, as well as people who use public transport.

"It is controversial for public transport, some people support it and some don't. Law enforcement is also another point to consider," the CE said.

Part of the plan is to use Penny's Bay for isolating Covid-19 patients with little or no symptoms

Another measure being considered is the conversion of Penny’s Bay Quarantine Center into an isolation facility for Covid patients with few or no symptoms.

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However, she said this arrangement will only be implemented when the Covid situation worsens further.

Despite record infections being posted in recent days and the surge in cases with unknown sources, the CE stressed that the government remains committed to pursuing its “dynamic zero-Covid” policy.

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"At the moment, [containment] is still our best policy and strategy for Hong Kong. It has proven to be effective in helping Hong Kong to suppress the previous waves in allowing people to get back to their normal work," Lam said. "Achieving dynamic zero is still our best target."

The chief executive urged Hong Kong people to get vaccinated as soon as possible, saying that's the most effective way to combat the virus.

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Eventually, she said the requirement under the vaccine pass strategy will be tightened  from a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine to include the booster dose.

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Govt employees to work from home again as Covid outbreak turns severe

By The SUN

 

From Feb 4, only drop-in emergency visa applications will be accepted by Immigration

All government employees except those providing essential services will go back to working from home starting Friday, Feb 4 until Feb 11, amid fears of a mass outbreak of Covid-19 infections.

A statement issued Thursday by the Civil Service Bureau said, “Save for those involved in the provision of emergency services and essential public services and in anti-epidemic efforts, other government employees will be arranged to work from home.”

The Bureau called on employers in the private sectors to also allow their staff to work from home in order to cut down on the number of people on the streets and minimize social contacts among them.

The government also said more restrictive social distancing measures may be taken “in light of the deteriorating Covid-19 situation in Hong Kong.”

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As of now, the government says it is working to increase the testing capacity of both public and private laboratories from about 100,000 tests to 200,000 before mid-February.

In addition, it will closely monitor cases and sewage surveillance results so it could order lockdowns and compulsory testing notices as needed.

There will also be further mass distribution of home test kits for Covid-19 to residents in high-risk districts.

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Another measure that will be taken is to adjust isolation and quarantine facilities when necessary to prevent the possible mass outbreak of Covid-19 cases from paralysing the local healthcare system.

The statement noted the three-digit rise in the number of new infections in Hong Kong which started with 115 on Jan 28 and rose slightly to 121 on Feb 3.

Although the overall increase in the infection tally may not be significant, it said the number of cases with unknown sources has risen from six to 31 per day, and has now exceeded 100 overall. At the same time, the number of sewage samples that tested positive has risen from 11 on Jan 28 to 21 on Feb 2.

The government said these indicate that various silent transmission chains are still active in the community, even though the mass outbreak in Kwai Chung district – which totaled more than 400 in a  matter of days, has subsided.

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What is particularly worrying, said the statement, is that the silent transmissions are now spreading to various districts in Hong Kong, and cases have been increasing as a result.

Further, it is not just the high transmissible Omicron variant, especially its BA.2 form, which is giving cause for concern, but also the continuous stream of local cases involving the more lethal Delta strain.

The statement cited the case of an unvaccinated elderly woman found with Delta strain who turned critically ill and had to be moved to intensive case.

“With Hong Kong facing the threat of both mutant strains, the outlook for epidemic development is not optimistic,” said the statement.  

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Since the start of the fifth wave of infections in late December, the government said a series of anti-epidemic measures have been implemented, including the restoration of the most stringent social distancing measures. 

However, people flow within Hong Kong has dropped by just about 20 percent in recent days as compared with the 30-50 per cent decline during the previous waves. And despite repeated warnings, a number of people still engaged in many social activities during the Chinese New Year. 

“The Delta and Omicron mutant strains are spreading in the community at the same time, posing unprecedented threat to Hong Kong. The epidemic situation of the fifth wave may be more severe than that of the previous four waves,” said the statement.

“Members of the public are urged to stay vigilant, wear masks properly and get vaccinated as early as possible in order to greatly reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death when infected.”

Among the government offices that will cut down on its services in the next week is the Immigration Department, including its foreign domestic helpers section.

A statement from the Department said only drop-in applications for emergency visa extensions will be entertained during this period, and the applicant should provide a local phone number so staff from the relevant departments can contact them afterwards.

For more details on changes to Immigration’s office and service hours, please check this link:

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/03/P2022020300641.htm

 

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