No home quarantine for those who need to share toilet, says CHP

By Daisy CL Mandap 

All close contacts who share a toilet with a newly confirmed patient will be sent to Penny's  Bay

Health officials have revised their quarantine protocols for close contacts of people infected with Covid-19, so that those who share toilets with them will be sent to Penny’s Bay for quarantine.

This was disclosed by Dr Albert Au of the Centre for Health Protection today, as he reported an additional 1,179 infections, which included 94 imported cases. No new Covid-related death was reported.

Au said the self-reporting platform for Covid patients now asks if they share beds or toilets with other people in their households. If they do, they will all be sent to the quarantine facility.

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"We would pay attention to the address submitted by the patient. So if we understand there's only one toilet for most of the households in the building, then we would do more investigation... If it is found that they only have one toilet at home, they would be sent to a quarantine centre," he said.

Au said that if the authorities suspect that the patient did not provide correct information they will follow up.

Yesterday, he said the protocol was as before. Toilet sharing need not necessarily lead to close contacts being sent away for quarantine if they could show that it was possible to do a quick disinfection of the toilet each time it is used.

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While the infection tally has breached the 1,000 mark for the second straight day, Au said this was within expectation.

"We expect the trend to continue for some time, the main reason is that we are returning to normalcy and social distancing measures are being relaxed gradually,” he said.

He noted the numbers now are much lower than at the peak of the Omicron surge in February and March. Still, he said the government will continue to pay close attention to the situation as they don’t want to see an exponential growth in the cases.

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He made his statement as a new regulation requiring bar patrons to present a negative result for a rapid test taken within 24 hours to gain entry, took effect.

Au said people should not attempt to take the rapid test just before getting into a pub, as that could lead to cross infections in case they are infected.

Of the new local cases, 423 were from PCR test results while 622 were self-tests reported and confirmed by the authorities.

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The city’s total infection tally now stands at more than 1.22 million while the death toll is steady at 9,392.

CHP said 113 cases were reported from schools, involving 83 students and 30 teachers.

Cannan Kindergarten in Mong Kok has been told to suspend one of its classes after three students there tested positive.

No new cases were detected from Pui Shing Secondary School after six students were reported to have come down with the virus, including one who was found to carry the Omicron BA.2.12.1 sub-variant.

A total of 422 patients are receiving treatment at various public hospitals. Among them, 17 are in critical condition, including three who are in intensive care; while nine are in serious condition.

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Pinay, umaming ninakawan ang amo para may pambayad sa utang

Ginawa ang paglilitis sa Eastern Courts

Pinatawan ng dalawang buwang pagkabilanggo ang isang Pilipina na umamin sa pagnanakaw ng anim na singsing ng employer dahil nabaon ito diumano sa utang nang ipagawa ang bahay ng kanyang ina.

Ito ang paliwanag ng abugado ni D. Pangilinan, 41, isang domestic helper, matapos nitong aminin sa Eastern Court kahapon ang pagnanakaw na naganap sa bahay ng amo sa Mid-Levels.

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Ayon sa pulis, ang pagnanakaw ay nangyari sa pagitan ng Nov. 27, 2021, at June 9, 2022. 

Napansin daw ng among Intsik na nawala sa kanyang silid-tulugan ang isang singsing na may 4-carat na diamond, isang singsing na may crystal, dalawang singsing na may berdeng jade, isang singsing na may perlas, at isang singsing na may palamuting diamond na hugis paru-paro. 

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Ang kabuuang halaga ng mga singsing ay $79,000.

Tumawag ng pulis ang amo noong June 13, at nakita sa mga gamit ni Pangilinan ang mga resibo ng ilang pawnshop na pinagsanglaan ng mga singsing.

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Hiningi ng abugado kay Principal Magistrate Ada Yim na bigyan ng mas magaang na parusa si Pangilinan dahil napilitan lang daw siyang magnakaw upang makabayad sa mga utang na kinuha niya nang ipagawa ang bahay ng kanyang ina, at nagsisisi na siya.

Dahil agad siyang umamin, nabawi ang lahat ng mga singsing sa mga pinagsanglaan niya, kaya ang tunay na nawala sa amo ay mas maliit kaysa sa $79,000 na halaga ng mga singsing, dagdag ng abugado.

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Maliban sa kasong ito ay malinis ang record ni Pangilinan simula nang dumating siya sa Hong Kong noong 2017 upang magtrabaho bilang DH sa una niyang amo.

Nagsimula ang hukom sa parusang tatlong buwan, na binawasan niya ng isang ikatlo (1/3), kaya ang naiwan ay dalawang buwang pagkakakulong.

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Pinoy pinagmulta ng $3,000 dahil sa electric bike

 

Naganap ang paglilitis sa Eastern Courts.

Isang Pilipino ang nabigyan ng magastos na leksyon sa Eastern Magistrates’ Court kanina nang pagmultahin siya ng $3,000 dahil sa pagmamaneho ng electric bike sa kalye.

At dahil din dito, isang taong bawal kumuha ng lisensiya sa pagmamaneho si Rotchell Puno, na isang security personnel.

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Humarap si Puno sa sala ni Principal Magistrate Ada Yim matapos sampahan ng apat na kaso ng pulis dahil nahuli siya noong April 16 na nakasakay sa isang e-bike sa King’s Road, sa tapat ng poste na may numerong 43442.

Dahil sa agarang pag-amin niya sa mga paratang, isa-isang pinatawan ng hukom ng karampatang parusa ang kanyang mga kasalanan:

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• $1,000 dahil sa pagmamaneho niya ng isang sasakyang de motor na walang lisensiya o hindi naka- rehistro, na labag sa Road Traffic Ordinance.
• $1,000 dahil sa paggamit ng sasakyan na walang third party insurance, na dapat sasagot sa gastos kapag mayroon siyang nadisgrasya, na labag sa Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risks) Ordinance. Kasabay dito ang 12 buwang pagbabawal sa kanyang kumuha ng lisensiya sa pagmamaneho.

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• $500 dahil nagmaneho siya ng sasakyang de motor na wala siyang lisensiya, na labag sa Road Traffic Ordinance.
• At $500 dahil sa pagmamaneho ng isang motorsiklo na walang helmet na nakakabit sa kanyang ulo bilang proteksiyon, na labag sa Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) Regulations ng Road Traffic Ordinance.

Ibinalik kay Puno ang sasakyan na may kasamang warning mula kay Magistrate Yim: huwag niyang gagamitin itong muli habang hindi naka-rehistro, o kaya ay tanggalin niya ang motor kung gusto niya itong sakyan.

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At, dagdag ng hukom, huwag syang mag-motor nang walang lisensya kung ayaw niyang mahuling muli.

Dahil una nang nakapag-piyansa si Puno ng $2,000, kinailangan niya na lang magdagdag ng $1,000 para sa tuluyan niyang paglaya.

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Pagkamatay ng Pilipinang DH, natural ang sanhi, sabi sa inquest

Ng The SUN 

Natural na sanhi ang ikinamatay ni Leonita, sabi ng mga hurado

Natural ang sanhi ng pagkamatay ng Pilipinang si Leonita Arcillas Quinto, na ilang beses na nagreklamo tungkol sa diumano’y hindi makataong pagtrato sa kanya ng dating employer bago siya pumanaw.

Ito ay ayon sa nagkakaisang hatol na ibinaba nitong Miyerkules ng apat na hurado sa inquest o pagsusuri sa sanhi ng pagkamatay ni Quinto, na isinagawa sa West Kowloon Court.

Nakitang patay si Quinto sa loob ng kanyang kuwarto sa bahay ng dating amo na si Rachel Wong sa Mei Foo Sun Chuen noong Apr 4, 2017. Wala pang apat na buwan siyang naninilbihan noon, at tinatapos na lang ang isang buwang pasabi pagkatapos i-terminate ang sariling kontrata, nang siya ay masawi.

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Bago magdesisyon ang jury ay sinabihan sila ni Coroner Stanley Ho na may dalawa lang silang maaring pagpilian: ang ideklara na namatay si Quinto na natural ang sanhi, o hindi nila dedesisyunan ang kaso dahil sa kawalan ng sapat na basehan.

Pagkatapos ng mahigit apat na oras na pag-uusap ay sinabi ng mga hurado na natural na sanhi (katulad ng isang lihim na sakit) ang ikinamatay ng dalaga, bagama’t hindi pa rin nila matukoy kung ano ba talaga ito.

Ito ay matapos sabihin ng nagsagawa ng autopsiya sa bangkay ng 46 taong gulang na Pilipina na tubong Negros Occidental, na hindi niya matukoy kung ano ang dahilan ng ikinamatay nito.

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Ang mga organ nito sa katawan ay normal lahat ang anyo at walang itong tinamong sugat na maaring nagsanhi ng pagkamatay. Wala din siyang sakit na malubha.

Ayon pa sa pathologist na si Dr Philip Beh Swan-lip, hindi maaring namatay ang Pilipina nang dahil lang sa sobrang pagtatrabaho.

Lumabas sa pagdinig na isang buwan matapos mag-umpisang mamasukan sa dating among si Quinto ay nagreklamo ito sa kanyang dating agency na halos walang tigil ang kanyang trabaho pero inaabuso pa rin siya at hindi binibigyan ng sapat na pagkain.

   

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Ayon naman sa nakababata nitong kapatid na si Imelda Q. Abong na tumestigo online mula sa Pilipinas ay kinukuwento ni Quinto na alas tres pa lang ng umaga ay nag-uumpisa na itong magtrabaho, at nakakakain lang ng maayos sa gabi.

Hindi rin daw ito pinapagamit ng toilet ng amo kahit nireregla ito.

Ayon pa rin daw kay Quinto, narinig niya na naka blacklist na si Wong sa maraming mga recruiter dahil sa dami ng reklamo laban dito ng mga dati nitong kasambahay.

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Pero ayon naman sa mga tumestigong opisyal mula sa labour at immigration department, wala silang natanggap na reklamo mula kay Quinto o kay Wong, at wala din daw masamang record sa kanila ang employer.

Dahil hindi na nakayanan ang pagtrato sa kanya ng amo ay nagdesisyon si Quinto na umalis na lang, at nagbigay ng isang buwang pasabi noong Mar 19, 2017.

Lumabas sa pagsisiyasat na ilang araw matapos siyang dumating para manilbihan kay Wong at sa tatlong miyembro ng pamilya nito ay nagkaroon ng impeksyon sa lalamunan si Quinto, pero wala namang iba pang sakit na nakita sa kanya nang siya ay magpakunsulta.

Ayon naman sa ahensya na nagdala sa Pilipina sa Hong Kong ay itinapon na nito ang mga kasulatan na may kaugnayan kay Quinto, kabilang ang kanyang medical record.

Bilang tugon dito, nirekomenda ng mga hurado na obligahin ng Labour Department ang mga agency na itago ang lahat ng mga dokumento ng mga naipasok nilang mga domestic helper ng hindi kukulangin sa dalawang taon, o haba ng mga kontratang pinirmahan nila.

Pinayo din nila na dapat na may hawak pareho ng kopya ng lahat ng medical record ng FDW ang employer at pati na rin ang worker.

Suhestiyon din ng jury, agad kunin ng pulis sa agency ang lahat ng record ng mga FDW na nasawi o nasugatan ng malubha para mas mapadali ang kanilang imbestigasyon.

Sinang-ayunan ni Coroner Ho ang mga rekomendasyon ng mga hurado, at nanawagan din sa  pulis na imbestigahan ang agency at ang employer bagamat nakaalis na ito ng Hong Kong nitong Enero kaya hindi nakadalo sa inquest.

Ayon sa coroner, mukhang nilabag ng agency ang mga panuntunan na itinakda sa ilalim ng Code of Practice for Employment Agencies.

Ayon pa kay Ho, dapat alamin ng pulis kung bakit hindi sinabi ng employer sa kanila na nagkaroon sila ng hidwaan ni Quinto.

Sa isang pahayag, sinabi naman ng Justice Without Borders na naipakita sa inquest ang delikadong sitwasyon ng mga migranteng manggagawa sa ibang bansa.

Sabi pa ng grupo na tumulong na maisulong ang inquest, nakakalungkot na hindi lumabas ang tunay na dahilan ng pagkamatay ni Quinto, at hindi nakatulong na hindi dumalo sa pagdinig ang dating employer na ito.

Ang pagdinig ay iniutos ni High Court Judge Mimmie Chan noong nakaraang taon, matapos tanggihan ni Abong ang unang hatol ng coroner na “unknown” ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng kapatid.

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Covid-19 cases breach 1,000-mark

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Au says of the 1,047 new cases, 76 were imported

Hong Kong’s daily Covid-19 tally has risen to 1,047, the highest since the Omicron-fueled fifth wave eased in early April.

Dr Albert Au of the Centre for Health Protection said at today’s press briefing that 971 local infections were reported, and there were an additional 76 cases that were imported.

This prompted a barrage of questions as to why the CHP has decided to vary its previous practice of .including imported cases in the overall tally given each day.

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CHP first made the change yesterday, when it said there were 752 local cases plus 971 imported ones, causing initial confusion as no previous announcement was made as to the change in reporting the daily tally.

“Imported cases don’t have anything to do with local infection,” Au said. “This will enable members of the public to understand how many cases we have chalked up each day.”

Au also clarified that the CHP has not changed its protocol for determining whether people identified as close contacts of infected persons should be moved to quarantine facilities.

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Unlike reports that said all those without access to a separate toilet would be moved, he said the close contacts would also be asked if toilet disinfection could be done quickly, and it is only when this is not possible that they will be moved to a quarantine facility.

Among the new local cases, 477 were from PCR tests, while the remaining 494 were rapid test results that were confirmed by laboratories.

A total of 147 new cases were reported by 127 schools, involving 135 students and 12 teachers.

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They included six students at Pui Ching Middle School who attended a dinner party for athletes held on Jun 10.

One of the students was found infected with the B.2.12.1 sub-variant of the Omicron, so the five others who sat with her at the same table during dinner are also suspected to be carriers.

Five others who shared their table have been told to undergo quarantine, while the rest of some 60 students at the school have been told to stop attending classes for a week.

Au said all the infected students were members of the school’s track and field team.

He also said there was no indication that the students had transmitted the virus in their classes so there is no need to order the school to suspend more classes at this time.

The student was one of 23 newly identified cases of the sub-variant. All but one were local cases, and the sole imported one had flown in from Singapore.

Six more cases were found from bars. One was a patron of Racks City, who took the infection tally there to 23; while five more were added to the cluster at FLM, taking the total figure to 33.

The outbreaks in six bars that have resulted in more than 350 people testing positive have led to authorities requiring everyone who enter these venues to present a negative result for a rapid test taken within 24 hours starting on Thursday.

Dr Larry Lee of the Hospital Authority said an 83-year-old woman who tested positive at the hospital had passed on yesterday, taking the death toll from the fifth wave to 9,179.

The patient who was unvaccinated and had a heart condition, was admitted to Caritas Hospital in semi-conscious state on Jun 2. She was found to have a broken femur and hemorrhaging tumor. Lee said they believe her death was not related to Covid-19.

A total of 412 patients are being treated at public hospitals and among them, 16 are in critical condition and six are in serious condition.

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If your ward harms you, go seek help, FDWs told

By Daisy CL Mandap 

May shows a wound allegedly inflicted by her 8-year-old ward last year

While the law in Hong Kong has been tightened to protect young children from abuse, it appears to be silent on how a carer, particulary a foreign domestic helper, can seek redress if it is she who gets harmed by a young kid in her care.

This was the experience shared by May E. recently, after she was terminated and given one month’s notice by her employer last May 19, after she allegedly tried to film her eight-year-old ward in the act of trying to stab her with a fork.

“Muntik na akong saksakin ng tinidor kaya tumayo ako at kumuha ng phone ko. Kinuhanan ko ng video ang bata kaya nagalit ang ama. Binigyan ako ng one month notice at sa awa ng Diyos meron na akong (bagong) amo,” said May in a message.

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(The boy almost stabbed me with a fork so I stood up and took my phone. I filmed the boy (in the act) which angered his father. I was given a month’s notice but with God’s grace I have managed to secure a new employer).

Due to the advice of the employment agency which helped her find a new employer, May did not pursue a case initially and even agreed to her employer paying her only back wages after her notice period ends.

In turn, the employer promised to send a favorable endorsement of her application for new employment to the Immigration Department.

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May she initially sought help from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration but was told that it would be difficult to prove her claim of unjust termination as she had no evidence.

But after seeking advice from the Mission for Migrant Workers, May decided to take further action and initially sent a report about her termination to the Immigration Department.

The child allegedly scratched May's arm with his fingernails

May had been with the family for three years and seven months and would not have thought of leaving if her employer did not use the incident to terminate their contract.

According to the Filipina, the boy had been inflicting harm on her since she started working for the family in 2018 and he was just four years old. The boy’s parents knew but did not do anything about it, she said.

“He would bite my arms, punch me on the back, or use an umbrella to hit me on the head, causing me blurred vision,” she said in her letter.

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May she told her agency about the attacks but was told to be patient as there was nothing that could be done as the boy was a minor with no criminal liability.

“Tiniis ko lang dahil bata,” she told The SUN. (I put up with it because he was just a kid).

But she finally decided to do something about the assaults on March 28 last year, after the boy allegedly bit her left arm and scratched it with his fingernails, then tried to poke her eyes with his chopsticks.

She went to see a doctor who in turn gave her a medical certificate with the diagnosis written as: “left upper limb biting and hitting injury.”

At her female employer’s request, May said she decided to take no further action.

But after being fired, she felt she was the one wronged, so she decided to ask for help and advice.

Bite marks that a doctor attested to in a medical certificate 

When asked about her situation, Cynthia Tellez, general manager of the Mission for Migrant Workers, said the employer was the one at fault as he failed to ensure May’s safety.

Her recommendations were that (1) May should report the incident to the police, even if the alleged offender cannot be held criminally liable because he is a minor; (2) She can file a claim for compensation with help from Legal Aid, especially since she has evidence from the previous case and the employer still did not do anything to stop the child; (3) demand a month’s salary in lieu of notice apart from payments due her under the contract, as well as (4) severance pay since the employer has already indicated he will no longer hire a replacement.

Finally, Tellez said May should immediately report the incident to Immigration so it would be put on notice on the incidents that led to her termination.

Acting on the advice, May said in a letter she drafted that boy’s mother witnessed the incident but did nothing to stop the attack.

Bruise mark left  after the ward allegedly hit May  

“I was so scared, his mother only watching him…I got my phone to take a video and said, ‘Maam, I will take this video for evidence and I will call the police, and Ma’am said to me, please calm down, so I didn’t call the police.”

That same evening, his male employer was told about the incident and instead of appeasing May, he shouted at her and gave her a month’s notice of termination.

May was told she could not film the incident as it involved a minor, but she knows better now. She was the one who was wronged, and she should take action accordingly.

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3 DHs among 10 arrested by Immigration for illegal work

 

Some of the suspected illegal workers arrested during the operation.

Three foreign domestic helpers– who are prohibited from working outside the homes of their employers -- and one former FDH who has overstayed her visa, were among 10 people arrested today for illegal work in raids conducted by the Immigration Department.

Arrested with them for working illegally were three persons who were holders of recognizance forms, which prohibit them from taking up employment in Hong Kong.

Another two women and one man, aged 23 to 69, were also arrested for employing these workers for various jobs, including dishwashing and food processing.

Immigration said the arrested were made during a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Swordfish.

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It said investigators raided over 10 target locations including restaurants, retail shops, employment agencies, industrial buildings and financial companies

In a statement, Immigration emphasized that an FDH should only perform domestic duties for the employer specified in their contract. An FDH should not take up any other employment, including part-time domestic duties, with any other person. The employer should not require or allow the FDH to carry out any work for any other person.

Immigration said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

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 It also warned: "As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment."

Immigration said it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable.

“Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability.”

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It said employers must take all steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer must make enquiries to remove any doubt that the person can be legally employed.

“The court will not accept failure to do so as a defense in proceedings,” Immigration said. “It is also an offense if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card.”

According to the High Court sentencing guidelines, offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year.

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