12k Covid patients under home isolation start wearing tracking bracelets

By The SUN 

The electronic wristband will prevent infected persons from leaving home (AFP photo)

A new measure aimed at curbing a surge in Covid-19 infections in the city took effect today, Friday.

No less than 12,000 people who are on home isolation after testing positive for the coronavirus are now required to wear electronic tracking wristbands to make sure they do not go out and spread the virus.

The move comes as health authorities reported an additional 3,574 Covid infections, including 216 that were imported.

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The Hospital Authority said a total of 1,082 Covid patients are now being treated in public hospitals, almost 140 more than the day before.

Among them, 23 are in critical condition, including seven who are in intensive care units, while 24 are seriously ill.

Of the imported cases, 76 were detected at the airport, 109 at quarantine hotels, and 31 were newly arrived travelers who had completed their seven-day isolation.

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Among them, 60 had flown in from the United Kingdom, 19 from Singapore, 19 from the United States, 13 from the Philippines, and 11 from Australia. 

HA’s Sara Ho said five more Covid patients, aged between 65 and 90, had died in the past 24 hours. They all had either cancer or a chronic illness.

Ho said that because of the continuing rise in infections, hospital staff who look after vulnerable patients will be required to undergo two PCR tests each week starting on Monday.

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That’s on top of the daily rapid tests that all hospital staff are required to go through each day, before reporting for work.

The wearing of an electronic bracelet is another way by which health authorities are trying to curb the rise in infections.

Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau said earlier this week that based on current trends, the number of Covid cases would double by the coming week.

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The surge is expected to peak by September, when up to 10,000 patients could be admitted to hospitals.

Lo also said that more than 12,000 or 60% of all infected patients are currently undergoing home quarantine. By making them wear the tracking device to make sure they do not go out and spread the virus, Lo hopes to further cut the rate of transmission.

According to a government statement, those who report positive results via online platforms will be given the electronic wristbands along with anti-epidemic kits by relevant government agencies.

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The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer will assist with the cases and confirm the activation of the electronic wristbands. 

For details, please refer to the "Handbook for Persons Tested Positive for COVID-19". (https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/tp_handbook.pdf).

Anyone who violates an isolation order faces up to $10,000 in fines and six months in jail.

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Ang mga beach na dapat puntahan, dahil malinis

 

Ang Shek-O Beach, na nakasama sa Grade 2 dahil hindi masyadong malinis

Walong beach lang ang nakapasok sa listahan ng Environmental Protection Department (EPD) bilang Grade 1 (Good), na magandang languyan dahil malinis ang tubig at kakaunti ang mikrobyong e. coli na sanhi ng mga sakit sa tiyan.

Ang karamihan, lalo na ang mga popular na beach na gaya ng Repulse Bay at Deep Water Bay at 16 na iba pa, ay napunta sa Grade 2  (Fair) na pwede pa ring languyan pero may mga mikrobyong dapat agapan kung sakaling  makainom ng tubig nito.

Ang mga beach na dapat iwasan ay 11 na Grade 3 (Poor) at dalawang Grade 4 (Very Poor).

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Ayon sa EPD, sumama ang kalidad ng tubig sa maraming beach dahil naging maulan noong unang linggo ng Hulyo, na naging dahilan ng pagbuhos ng maruming tubig mula sa mga lugar na tinitirhan ng maraming tao.

Kahit na naging mainit na ang panahon sa mga sumunod na linggo ay hindi pa agad naka-recover ang tubig ng maraming beach.

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit masyadong kulay berde ang dagat, lalo na sa Tuen Mun at Tsuen Wan.

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Ang mga beach at kanilang mga grado (ang mga may asterisk ay may nakatalagang life guard):

Grade 1

Hap Mun Bay Beach*

Kiu Tsui Beach

Lo So Shing Beach

Silverstrand Beach*

Stanley Main Beach*

Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*

Trio Beach*

Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 

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Grade 2

Cafeteria New Beach     

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* 

Chung Hom Kok Beach   

Clear Water Bay First Beach        

Clear Water Bay Second Beach* 

Deep Water Bay Beach*

Discovery Bay    

Hung Shing Yeh Beach*  

Kwun Yam Beach             

Lower Cheung Sha Beach             

Middle Bay Beach            

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Pui O Beach*     

Repulse Bay Beach*        

Shek O Beach*  

South Bay Beach              

St Stephen's Beach          

Tong Fuk Beach

Turtle Cove Beach           

 

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Grade 3

Approach Beach

Big Wave Bay Beach       

Butterfly Beach*              

Cafeteria Old Beach        

Casam Beach*  

Golden Beach*  

Kadoorie Beach*             

Lido Beach*       

Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*          

Silver Mine Bay Beach*  

Ting Kau Beach*              

 

Grade 4

Castle Peak Beach           

 Hoi Mei Wan Beach       

 

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20 persons arrested in latest Immigration crackdown on illegal work

By The SUN

 

4 of the 8 women arrested are shown in a photo supplied by Immigration

Fourteen suspected illegal workers and six alleged employers were arrested in the latest territory-wide operation against illegal work mounted by the Immigration Department.

According to a statement released earlier today, Friday, the suspects were arrested over three consecutive days from Jul 11 to 13, when Immigration carried out operations codenamed “Lightshadow”, “Twilight” and “Champion.”

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In the first two operation, 59 locations were targeted, including food and beverage areas, a garbage collection depot, a logistics centre, residential buildings, restaurants and a vegetable stall.

Eight people were arrested during these operations, including seven women aged 24 to 56, who were suspected of doing illegal work. Another woman, aged 35, was arrested on suspicion of hiring the illegal workers.

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During operation "Champion", officers raided 178 premises in Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi districts and New Territories North Region, including garbage collection depots, garages, industrial buildings, residential buildings and wet markets. 

Seven suspected illegal workers and five suspected employers were arrested during the operations. The suspected illegal workers comprised seven men, aged 29 to 42, who all hold recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking up any employment.

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The five suspected employers were also all men, aged 30 to 64.

In the statement, Immigration warned that visitors are not allowed to take up employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid. Violators will be subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment.

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Under section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants, those subject to removal or deportation (like holders of recognizance documents), or refused permission to land, as well as overstayers, face the same maximum fine, but the prison term could be up to three years.

Those who hire people who are not allowed to take up jobs are also liable to prosecution as aiders and abettors of the illegal act, and face an even bigger punishment.

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The maximum penalty for one who hires a person who is not lawfully employable is a fine of $500,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability.

In line with the guidelines set by the High Court, an employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

The High Court has ruled that employers must take all practicable steps to ensure a job applicant is lawfully employable. Apart from inspecting the applicant’s identity card, the employer is also duty-bound to make enquiries to ensure the lawful employability of the person.

Immigration warned employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. “Immigration will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences,” said the statement.

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Pinoy balik-kulungan matapos tanggihan ang alok niyang piyansa

 

Ang West Kowloon Court, kung saan dininig ang kaso 

Isang Pilipino na torture claimant ang nabigong makalaya pansamantala nang tanggihan ng hukom sa West Kowloon Courts ngayon (July 15) ang alok niyang doblehin ang piyansang ilalagak niya sa kaso niyang burglary, o panloloob at pagnanakaw.

Sinabi ng abogado ni Jefrey Quiatchon, 35 taon gulang at walang trabaho, na handa siyang doblehin sa $2,000 ang $1,000 na nauna na niyang inialok bilang piyansa upang makalaya siya..

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Pero agad itong tinanggihan ni Magistrate Veronica Heung Shuk-han nang walang paliwanag.

Sa halip ay pinabalik niya sa kulungan si Quiatchon upang hintayin ang muling pagdinig ng kaso sa July 22 upang pag-usapan ang kanyang alok.

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Itinakda rin ni Magistrate Heung sa Setyembre 9 ang pagpapatuloy ng pagdinig sa kaso.

Inakusahan si Quiatchon ng pagpasok sa isang kainan sa Fuk Wing St. sa  Sham Shui Po nang walang paalam at pagkuha ng isang cash box na may lamang $1,000 at isang Huawei tablet na nagkakahalaga ng $1,500.

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Isinakdal si Quiatchon ng paglabag sa Theft Ordinance ng Hong Kong, na nagpaparusa sa burglary ng hanggang 14 na taong pagkabilanggo, depende sa kung gaano kalubha ang nagawang krimen.

Ang insidente ay nangyari noong July 5.

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Si Quiatchon ay may hawak na recognizance document, kaya pwede siyang tumira sa Hong Kong ng walang visa habang nakabinbin ang petisyon niya na hindi siya pauwiin sa Pilipinas sa dahilang maari siyang mapatay o saktan.

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Gayunman, bawal sa mga kagaya niya ang magtrabaho sa Hong Kong.

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HK records biggest number of Covid cases in 3 months

By The SUN 

Ho says hospitals are cutting back on non-emergency services to cope with the rise in Covid cases

Hong Kong has recorded 3,674 new Covid-19 infections, the highest since the fifth wave of the pandemic started easing in early April.

Five related deaths were also reported Thursday, raising the death toll from the same period to 9,214.

The steadily increasing caseload has led health authorities to warn that the provision of services in public hospitals could be disrupted further.

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Yesterday, Hospital Authority’s Dr Sara Ho said they had started adjusting the number of non-emergency surgeries that they provide to cope with the increase in admissions of Covid patients.

Separately, Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau said that if the current trend continues there will be about 10,000 Covid patients in hospitals by September, when the current outbreak peaks.

At today’s press briefing Ho said that 1,060 Covid patients are now confined in public hospitals and the infection control centre at North Lantau Hospital.

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Among them, 20 are in critical condition, 23 are in serious condition, and eight are in hospital intensive care units.

Of today’s new cases all except 257 were locally acquired.

The imported cases included 117 which were identified at the airport, 119 at designated quarantine hotels, and the remaining 21 were caught post-isolation.

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More than half, or 75, of all cases detected at the airport had come from the United Kingdom, indicating the severity of the infection in the country. In the past several days, the number of cases from the UK had been in the 50-60 range.

As part of measures aimed at controlling the spread of the virus, all patients undergoing home quarantine will be made to wear electronic bracelets from Friday, to ensure that they stay put in their houses.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection also said that those who fail to get a negative PCR test result at the Shenzhen Bay port on the way to the mainland will be immediately issued an isolation order and sent to a community isolation facility.

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This followed reports that people who test positive at the border crossing are being told to leave the area on their own.

"To improve and to strengthen the management of these cases, we'll require all departing passengers to be sent to community isolation facilities for those who have a positive quick PCR," said Chuang.

The CHP said it received reports of 355 new cases from 292 schools today. Four schools will suspend certain classes for a week after more than two cases were recorded in each class.

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Six residents in four residential care centers were also among the new Covid patients.

Genome sequencing revealed 62 new cases involving the BA.2.12.1 Omicron sub-variant, and 32 suspected cases of the BA.4 or BA.5 sub-variants.   

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Kakaibang init ng panahon, magpapatuloy hanggang sa susunod na linggo

 

Kuha kanina ng HK Observatory sa Victoria Harbor sa kasagsagan ng init

Maghanda sa mainit na day-off ngayong Sabado at Linggo, dahil ang temperatura ay maglalaro sa pagitan ng 33-34 degrees celsius.

Ayon sa Hong Kong Observatory, mas mataas sa normal ang kasalukuyang init ng panahon, na magpapatuloy hanggang sa susunod na linggo.

Naitala na noong July 12 (Martes) ang pinakamataas na temperatura sa taong ito, sa 35.2 degress celsius.

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Ang kakaibang pag-init ng panahon ay dahil sa tuyong hangin na umiikot sa papawirin sa ibabaw ng timog China. Ito ay tinaguriang anticyclone na pumipigil sa pagbuo ng mga ulap na nagbibigay lilim at nagdadala ng ulan.

Kahit may inaasahang manaka-nakang pag-ulan sa susunod na siyam na araw, ito ay susunod sa kalakarang namumuo sa buwang ito – ang kawalan ng ulan. Halimbawa, 149.6mm na ulan pa lang ang naipon nitong July 1-13, samantalang ang normal na level ay 385.8mm.

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Dagdag pa rito ay ang pagtaas din ng UV (o ultra violet, ang sinag mula sa araw na nakasusunog sa balat) index, na maglalaro sa 8 hanggang 11 sa pagitan ng 10:30am hanggang 2:30pm.

Ilan ang sa mga payo ng Observatory upang maiwasan ang epekto ng init:

• Upang maiwasan ang heat stroke, iwasan ang paglalagi nang matagal sa ilalim ng araw.

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• Kung kailangang lumabas, magsuot ng sombrero at damit na matingkad ang kulay at maluwag.
• Manatiling nasa lilim hanggan’t maaari.
• Uminom ng maraming tubig, at iwasan ang mga inuming may caffeine (gaya ng kape at tsaa) at alcohol.
• Kung sumama ang pakiradam, magpatingin agad sa doktor.

 

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Pilipina na gumamit ng pekeng vaccination record, ligtas sa kulong

Ng The SUN 

Nangyari ang pamimigay ng pekeng vaccination record dito sa Kowloon Bay Sports Centre (File)

Isang Pilipina na kumuha ng pekeng vaccination record sa anyaya ng kanyang employer ay nakaligtas sa kulong, kasama ang mga magulang ng employer, matapos silang humarap sa Kwun Tong magistracy kaninang umaga.

Si Mary Ann Villeza Marcelo, 39; at ang mag-asawang sina Liu Kwok-hung, 67 at asawa nitong si Siu Hang-yee, 70, ay pawang isinailalim sa isang bind-over order sa halagang $2,000 bawat isa, na tatagal ng isang taon, pagkatapos nilang tanggapin ang salaysay ng mga pangyayari.

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Ibig sabihin, hindi sila magkaka-record at hindi rin babayaran ang halagang $2,000 kung hindi sila muling lalabag sa batas sa loob ng isang taon.

Pero ang employer na si Liu Hoi-yan, 42, isang maybahay; at kasabwat nitong nurse na si Carmen Ho Ka-man, 34, ay ikinulong matapos aminin ang sakdal na sabwatan para manloko (conspiracy to defraud) sa harap ni magistrate Bina Chainrai.

Nakatakda silang sentensyahan sa Sept 27.

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Ang dalawa pang kinasuhan ng kaparehong kaso, ang magkapatid na guro na sina Cheng Nga-yi, 30 at Cheung Sze-wai, 25, ay itinanggi ang paratang kaya lilitisin ang kanilang kaso sa Sept 26.

Ang pito ay inakusahan ng Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) na nagsabwatan para makakuha ng pekeng patunay na nabakunahan sila.

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Sinabi sa korte na ipinahayag ni Hoi-yan ang pagkabahala niya tungkol sa mga posibleng epekto ng pagbabakuna, bagamat alam niya na mahihirapan na siyang pumasok sa ilang lugar kapag ipinatupad na ang vaccine pass at hindi pa rin siya nagpaturok.

Inalok ni Ho si Hoi-yan na bibigyan na lang siya ng patunay para sa bakuna kahit hindi siya magpaturok, at agad namang pumayag ang maybahay.

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Noong Feb 20, apat na araw bago ipatupad ang vaccine pass ay nagpunta si Hoi-yan kasama ang mga magulang at helper na si Marcelo sa vaccination centre sa Kowloon Bay Sports Centre. Binigyan silang lahat ni Ho ng vaccination record kahit hindi sila nabakunahan.

Nang makatanggap ng sumbong ang ICAC ay nagsagawa sila ng imbestigasyon, at nakita nila ang anim na lalagyan ng bakuna na hindi nagamit sa puwesto ni Ho sa vaccination centre.

Inamin sa kanila ni Ho ang nagawang pagkakamali, at sinabi din na tinulungan niya ang magkapatid na Chen na makakuha ng pekeng patunay sa bakuna.

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Sa isang pakiusap sa korte para mapababa ang sentensiya kay Ho ay sinabi ng kanyang abugado na walang hininging kabayaran ang nurse sa mga kapwa niya akusado para sa pagbibigay niya sa kanila ng pekeng patunay para sa bakuna.

Nakita daw kasi ni Ho dati na nawalan ng malay ang isang katrabaho, at ang pumasok sa isipan niya ay may kinalaman ang pagpapabakuna ng kasamahan sa nangyari.

Bago siya nakasuhan ay isang lisensiyadong nurse si Ho, at kumikita ng $40,000 bawat buwan. Dahil sa kaso ay nawalan siya ng trabaho, at lubos ang pagsisisi ngayon, sabi na kanyang abugado.

Hindi naman natinag ang mahistrado, at sinabing ang ginawang kasalanan ni Ho ay isang malaking sagabal sa kampanya ng gobyerno na sugpuin ang pagkalat ng coronavirus.

Sa isang pahayag pagkatapos ng pagdinig ay nanawagan ang ICAC sa publiko na laging sumunod sa batas para mapanatili nila ang kanilang integridad.

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