HK posts a new record-high 625 Covid cases

By The SUN 

HK will implement the strictest gathering restrictions ever starting this Thursday

Hong Kong has logged 625 new Covid-19 infections Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 614 cases posted only a day earlier.

Of the new cases, four were imported, while the rest were locally acquired, and judging from the recent trend, most were untraceable.

Speaking at today’s daily press briefing on the coronavirus situation, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection said that from yesterday’s record number of cases, about 450 were untraceable.

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She also said there were around 500 preliminary positive cases, indicating the Omicron-fueled spread of the coronavirus has yet to ease.

Chuang said many of today’s cases came from recent large-scale gatherings. At least 19 big clusters of more than 10 people were said to have led to a number of people getting infected. In at least one such case, 47 people tested positive.

“I am not even talking of small groups of less than 10 people,” Chuang said.

The surge from these gatherings led to the Executive Council to approve today a proposal from the government to ban cross-family mingling of more than two households starting on Thursday.

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Chuang said that of the 621 local cases, 15 carried the Delta variant, while the rest have Omicron.

Dr Larry Lee from the Hospital Authority said that as of 9am today, 1,853 Covid-19 patients were receiving treatment at various infection control centers and public hospitals.

One unvaccinated 84-year-old man is in critical condition while a 77-year-old woman who was previously listed as critical, is now in serious condition. Both are unavaccinated. Another patient, who is vaccinated, is also in serious condition.

The rest are all in stable condition.

People must use the LeaveHomeSafe app in most venues starting Feb 24

Lee said that while Omicron patients usually have only mild or no symptoms at all, others, especially the unvaccinated, can get very sick, so people should not be complacent.

Those who have yet to be vaccinated must do so immediately.

Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam said that a total of 2,600 were reported in the past two weeks, and 898 of them, or 34.5%, were unlinked.

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Most of the cases (85%) carried the Omicron variant while 5.8% were Delta cases. A big chunk of the cases, or 80%, had a Ct value of 30, indicating they were highly infectious.

Lam said that starting this afternoon, the Stay Home Safe Program, under which close contacts or contacts of close contacts are allowed to isolate at home for either four or 14 days, depending on their proximity to an infected person, has begun.

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As of noon today, 38 persons have been allowed to stay home and conduct self-monitoring by using the rapid antigen tests and checking their temperature daily.

But they must wear a wristband tracking device and should not have any contact with people outside of their homes. All deliveries to them from relatives and other individuals must be left at their doorsteps.

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HK stops cross-family gatherings as part of new pandemic restrictions

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

CE Lam says the time has come for HK to enforce tougher measures

Hong Kong has banned the private gatherings of more than two families as part of tough new measures aimed at stopping the surge in coronavirus infections within the city, which today experienced its second straight day of more than 600 new Covid-19 cases.

Under the tightened social distancing measures that take effect from Thursday, Feb. 10, gatherings in public places will also be capped again at two people, from the current four.

These were among the new anti-pandemic restrictions announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam after attending the Executive Council session today, Feb. 8, during which other tough new  measures were approved.

Under the vaccine bubble slated to start on Feb 24, only those with at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine can enter churches, shopping malls, supermarkets and markets, department stores as well as hair salons.

These were the venues added to the previous list of regulated premises in an amendment passed by Exco during its meeting.

Only those with at least one dose of a vaccine may enter malls from Feb 24

The use of the vaccine pass was originally meant to extend only to premises previously listed under Cap 599(F), including restaurants, bars, cinemas, swimming pools, cruise ships and other places of entertainment.

However, the plan to include public transportation in the list was dropped, apparently because of enforcement difficulties.

According to CE Lam, the use of the vaccine pass will be introduced sooner than Feb 24 in some venues, like restaurants, but did not give specifics.

The CE also said the penalty for failing to comply with compulsory testing notice will double, from $5,000 to $10,000.

She also mentioned some proposed amendments to the Labour Ordinance which the Executive Council has yet to endorse, like the firing of an employee who refuses to be vaccinated will not be regarded as unreasonable dismissal.

On the other hand, an employer may not dismiss an employee who is unable to report for work because of the need to comply with a compulsory testing notice, and should allow a worker who is under a lockdown order to file for sick leave.

Asked about the possible violation of privacy laws when requiring people to submit their vaccination records, the CE said: “I hope you realize that the time has come for the Hong Kong government to enforce new measures.”

She said other countries which pride themselves as defenders of human rights have been doing the same thing for a long time.

No door-to-door inspection of houses to enforce the cross-family ban, but..

Speaking at a later press briefing, Secretary for Food and Health Thomas Chan said the ban on cross-family gatherings may be relaxed a bit to allow a caregiver from a third household to make regular visits to an elderly person.

Chan also said there will be no surprise visits to any households for the purpose of enforcing the regulation. However, if a violation of this rule is detected when investigating a confirmed case, those responsible may be penalized or prosecuted.

“There will be no door-to-door enforcement, but if there were cases which show that people are flouting the rules, if we pick up those cases in contravention of Cap 599, enforcement action will be taken,” he said.

The same rule will apply for those required to present their vaccination certificate.

Chan said that in restaurants, there will be an active type of vaccine pass inspection where the customer will have to scan the LeaveHomeSafe app and produce their vaccination record.

But in venues where there is large foot traffic such as in malls and supermarkets, there will be passive enforcement, meaning people will only have to scan the LHS app before entering. However, enforcers will do random checks of vaccination records to ensure compliance.

It's back to 2-together when in public places

He said the law defines private premises as those which are not readily accessible to the public on a regular basis, like workplaces. He said the gathering of people for work purposes is exempted from the rules on social distancing.

The introduction of the vaccine pass rule will be enforced in phases. In the first phase, all residents aged 12 years and above (unless exempt for medical reasons) shall have at least one dose of a vaccine to enter regulated premises.

The second phase which will take effect at the end of April will require all those aged 18 and above to show proof of a second vaccination. Those aged 12-17 will be required to show they have taken the second dose if their first jab was given at least six months earlier.

For the third phase which takes effect at the end of June those aged 18 and above must show proof of a booster shot if they had taken their second dose at least six months earlier. Younger visitors will not be required to show a booster record as they have a 12-month waiting period between jabs.

Court shuts down Filipina’s asylum bid, makes her pay costs

The case was heard at the High Court in Admiralty

A High Court judge not only ended a Filipina’s appeal to reverse a rejection of her asylum application, but  also prohibited her from filing similar appeals to keep her case alive in the courts.

And to emhasize his ruling to Jamaicha Baguindo Bansiles, Court of First Instance Judge Russell Coleman ordered her to pay the $35,000 cost of the proceedings.

As a non-refoulement claimant, Bansiles is not allowed to work in Hong Kong.  “But the lack of means should not be an absolute shield from the financial consequence of pursuing hopeless cases,” Judge Coleman in his decision published Jan. 31, 2021.

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“Indeed, in the present context, it is all the more important to bring home the message that habitually and persistently instituting vexation litigations would be met with appropriate costs orders,”  he added.

Judge Coleman was ruling on a case brought by the Immigration Department against Bansiles, invoking Section 27 of the High Court Ordinance, which allows the court to restrict a person's right to be heard in court.

Bansiles arrived in Hong Kong as a domestic helper but was terminated the next year and has since overstayed. When she was arrested on March 15, 2009, she applied for non-refoulement, which prevents her being sent back to the Philippines.

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Her reason for seeking such protection: she risks being harmed by two loan sharks in Philippines for failing to repay her debts.

Immigration rejected the claim in 2012, and she started nine years of what was described by the court as “habitually and persistently instituted vexation proceedings.”

She appealed to the Torture Claim Appeal Board (Board) and was rejected in 2013. She sought judicial review and her case was returned to the Immigration Director for fresh determination, but was rejected in 2016.

She went back to the Board, and was rejected in 2017.

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She went up to the High Court, and used the next four years going from the Court of First Instance to the Court of Appeal, but instead of asking it to rule on laws that were supposedly violated in rejecting her case, Bansiles raised the same arguments that were rejected previously, with added details.

Judge Coleman also noted arguments that were not relevant to her case, which “suggest that the defendant might have copied and pasted one of the circulating templates from another non-refoulement case.”

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“It is apparent that care was only given to ensure that the right forms were filled in and filed with the Registrar to enable the Defendant’s case to advance level by level in the appellant system. This is in stark contrast to the very little thought that had been put into the identification of her grounds of review/appeal,” Judge Coleman said. 

“I also find that, as submitted for the Director, the Defendant instituted those proceedings for the collateral purpose of delaying her removal from Hong Kong,” he added.

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Covid-19 cases hit all-time high of 614, about 600 more pending

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Many of the new infections were acquired from gatherings over the Lunar New Year

 An unprecedented 614 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported today, Feb 7, with about 600 others testing preliminary positive. The new figure is 57% more than the previous record of 351 cases logged on Saturday. 

Health officials who disclosed the record figures at today’s press conference, however, said it is not likely that the daily tally will breach the 1,000 mark in the next few days.

Dr Edwin Tsui, controller of the Centre for Health Protection, said the surge in cases is mainly the result of people gathering together over the Chinese New Year holidays, and whose infections are just being detected.

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“This is the effect of the gatherings during the Lunar New Year. We cannot be sure it will result to 1,000 or more because we are still conducting containment measures,” Tsui said.

From past experiences, he said cases would rise in certain places abroad if there were no containment strategies being implemented.

“Hopefully with all the social distancing measures (and our appeal) to members of the public not to gather, stay home…we hope with these measures and our current containment measures, we can still contain the disease.”

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As part of infection control, the government will move Covid-19 patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms to Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre from tomorrow, Tuesday.

Hospital Authority’s chief manager Larry Lee said the move will free up beds at public hospitals for patients with more serious symptoms.

Lee also said that among the 1,668 patients still being treated in public hospital, two are now in critical condition: a 77-year-old woman an 80-year-old man who both have the Delta variant and are not vaccinated.

One other patient is in serious condition, while the rest are stable.

The doctors at the press conference say HK's containment measures still work

While Penny’s Bay is turned into an isolation facility for the least ill Covid-19 patients, close contacts will soon be allowed to quarantine at home for 14 days after authorities confirm that their flats are suitable.

During their home quarantine, close contacts will be made to wear tracking bracelets and will not be allowed to receive guests or have contact with anyone from outside, but must provide for their own needs.

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Hui appealed to online shops to accept food delivery orders for those under home quarantine, and said he hopes their friends and relatives will also help. But he stressed there should be no contact or cash exchanges during deliveries.

Quarantined people will only be given a thermometer and some rapid antigen test kits for Covid-19. Officials say anyone who tests positive during the 14-day period must notify authorities immediately.

Meanwhile, CHP’s infectious disease chief Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said only seven of today’s confirmed cases were imported. Of the 607 local cases, 31 had the Delta strain, while the others are suspected Omicron carriers.

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Only 150 of the cases have been so far linked to previous infections.

Chuang also said that of the 342 local cases recorded Sunday, 219 were unlinked.

She said she would no longer discuss individual cases given the big number of infections that have been showing up lately.

But she cited in particular cleaners, security guards and construction site workers, whose infections must have been detected according to her, because they were tested regularly.

She also confirmed that two cross-border truck drivers tested positive. Reports said this caused a heavy backup at the border, and halted many vegetable deliveries to Hong Kong.

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Remains of Filipina DH allegedly hit by partner set to return home

By Daisy CL Mandap

Ivy during a happy time in HK (photo from her sister Analyne)

A Filipino domestic helper who could face charges of either murder or manslaughter over the death of his Filipina girlfriend appeared in Eastern Court again today, Jan. 7.

Bernie Macatangay Valencia, 42, was not asked to make a plea, as the prosecutor again applied for an adjournment pending the result of the autopsy and forensic report on the alleged victim, Ivy V. Quiabang.

Told that the defense had no objection to the application, Magistrate Ada Yim approved the application. She also ordered Valencia remanded in custody until his next court appearance on May 3 after he indicated through his counsel that he did not intend to apply for bail.

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Meanwhile, the head of the assistance to nationals section of the Consulate said they are just about to start working on repatriating Quiabang’s remains after getting back her passport from the police today.

Consul Paul Saret, who heads ATN, said the passport will be given to the funeral parlour tomorrow. “Only then can the schedule of the repatriation be finalized by the funeral company,” he said.

The news was welcomed by Quiabang’s sister, Analyne Villaluz, who has contacted various government departments to ensure a speedy repatriation of her sister’s remains, and for justice to be served her.

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Villaluz said her sister’s friends in Hong Kong are also asking about the funeral arrangements so they can say a final goodbye to her.

Valencia remains charged with wounding with intent, although the prosecution said during his previous court appearance on Jan 3 that the charge against him could be upgraded to either murder or manslaughter after Quiabang’s death the day before.

He was arrested on the night of Dec 23, after taking an unconscious Quiabang to Ruttonjee Hospital. After investigation, the police took him to court on Christmas Day, to face a charge of intentional wounding.

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A police report said the couple fought on Dec. 22 at their boarding house on Stone Nullah Lane in Wanchai, which ended with the accused hitting the woman, knocking her out. She was taken to Ruttonjee Hospital the next day, still unconscious.

After doctors saw that Quiabang had suffered brain hemorrhage she was moved to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital where she was operated on, but she never regained consciousness. She passed on at 7:52am on Jan. 2.

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Quiabang, who was separated from her husband and had two daughters aged 11 and 15, had worked for the same employer for eight years and was issued her new employment visa on Dec 23.

She was due to start working for her new employer on the day she died.

Valencia, on the other hand, had gone back to the Philippines after working for sometime in Hong Kong. He returned only in September last year, and was looking for a new employer after the previous one relocated abroad.

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Pinay na residente, balik-korte sa bintang na pagpatay sa sariling sanggol

Ang nasasakdal noong siya ay inaresto. (Larawan mula sa Sing Tao Daily)

Itutuloy sa Mayo 10 ang kaso ng isang Pilipina na inakusahang pumatay sa bagong silang niyang anak na babae sa Lantau noong Feb. 1, 2020.

Humarap kanina si J.G.Villanueva, 23, sa Eastern Magistracy sa sakdal na manslaughter, na may parusa sa ilalim ng Offenses against the Person Ordinance, ng hanggang habambuhay na pagkabilanggo at multang ipapataw ng korte.

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Ayon sa kanyang abogado, kailangan pa nila ng dagdag na palugit upang makumpleto  ang hinihintay na resulta ng isinagawang medical at psychological na pagsusuri sa akusado.

Kailangan pa rin daw kausapin ang tagausig kung dapat bang palitan ang kasong dapat harapin ni Villanueva, ayon sa abogado.

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Pumayag naman si Magistrate Jackie Ip Kai-Leung sa hiling ng abogado ni Villanueva matapos na hindi tumutol ang tagausig.

Mananatiling nakakulong ang Pilipina, na dating nagtatrabaho bilang receptionist sa isang gym, at hindi na siya muling humiling na payagan siyang magpiyansa para sa kanyang pansamantalang paglaya. 

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Unang kinasuhan sa West Kowloon Court si Villanueva noong Feb 2, 2020, matapos makita ang isang patay na sanggol sa isang maliit na daanan katabi ng gusaling tinitirhan niya sa Tong Fuk Tsuen, Lantau South.

Nakita ng mga pulis na nakakabit pa ang umbilical cord at placenta sa sanggol na babae, pero patay na ito.

Lumabas sa imbestigasyon ng pulis na ang bata ay itinapon mula sa mataas na lugar, at si Villanueva ang ina.

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Unang kinasuhan si Villanueva ng pag-abandona sa sanggol, pagkatapos ay ang pagtatago ng pagpanganak niya dito. Matapos ang karagdagang pag-iimbestiga ng mga pulis ay pinalitan ng manslaughter ang sakdal sa kanya noong Aug. 6, 2020.

Hiniling ni Villanueva na payagan siyang lumaya pansamantala kapalit ng $20,000 na piyansa pero hindi siya pinayagan ng korte.

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Health officials warn of hundreds of infection chains as cases hit 342

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

Dr Lam says at least 320 cases came from untraceable sources

A Hong Kong health official has warned that there are at least 320 unknown sources of Covid-19 transmission in the city, as 342 new infections were recorded, all of them locally transmitted.

Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam said in Sunday’s press briefing on the Covid-19 situation, the figure represents the number of cases that could not be linked to previous infections.

The surge in infections is expected to continue tomorrow, as more than 300 preliminary positive cases were recorded as of 4pm today.

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“Bearing in mind that one case can spread to more than one person, representing one transmission chain, so the minimum is 320,” he said.

“So it’s a very severe and widespread situation in terms of spread in the community and it is essential and critically important that we continue the containment policy, especially using the most effective tools of contact tracing, quarantine and also sending those detected cases to the hospital.”

He said the untraceable cases were found mostly in the districts of Sham Shui Po, Shatin, Kowloon City, Kwai Hing and Wong Tai Sin.

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Lam said many of the recent cases resulted from cross-family gatherings, and because of this, he again issued an appeal to residents to avoid visiting other people’s homes.

“One of the characteristics of this new wave is that there were a lot of cross-family gatherings, especially during the Chinese New Year. We expect that there will be more cases to come. Out of concern for family members they should reduce such family gatherings,” he said.

He also appealed to relatives of elderly people in care homes to arrange for their family members’ vaccination, citing figures showing a vaccination rate of only about 20% for those aged 80 and above, and 50% for those between 70 and 80%.

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While the prevalent Omicron variant of the coronavirus is highly transmissible, he said unvaccinated people could spread it even more.

He cited the case of a female air crew member who passed on the virus to family members who were unvaccinated like herself. The infection spread rapidly because the entire family was unvaccinated.

Another example was the husband of a Pakistani woman who acquired the Omicron from Silka Seaview Hotel in Yau Ma Tei during quarantine. The man who was unvaccinated, sparked the spread of the coronavirus in Kwai Chung Estate, where 768 cases have been found so far.

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Dr Chuang Shuk-wan of the Centre for Health Protection said of today’s cases, around 100 are linked to previous infections while the remaining ones are still under investigation.

Yesterday, she said 136 of the record 351 cases reported remain untraceable.

Some of today's cases visited Che Kung Temple over the Lunar New Year holidays (File)

Three outbreaks at elderly homes are being investigated. In one located on Un Chau Street in Sham Shui Po, a 93-year-old unvaccinated female patient has tested positive, causing about 30 people in the facility had to be moved to quarantine.

In another case, a staff member of a Salvation Army care home has tested positive, causing the evacuation of some 40 residents.

In another home in Ho Man  Tin, two positive cases two preliminary positive cases have been found, including one kitchen worker and one nurse. Chuang said it's likely that some residents there need to go to quarantine.

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Her other updates:

At a Sham Shui Po mosque where between 20 to 30 people gathered to pray, 11 people have tested positive, while one is preliminary positive case.

In virus-plagued Yuen Long Plaza, 13 people have tested positive.

Chuang said many of the new cases had eaten out during the Lunar New Year, while some had been to the Po Lin Monastery in Lantau and the Che Kung Temple in Shatin.

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