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Lawmaker calls for scrapping quarantine, negative test result for inbound travelers

Posted on 18 September 2022 No comments

By The SUN

 

Jeffrey Lam says quarantine restrictions must be dropped immediately

A legislator for the business sector has called on the government to do away with all restrictions for inbound travelers, saying they have ruined Hong Kong’s image as a global centre.

Jeffrey Lam, who also sits with the Executive Council, said that inbound travel rules should be relaxed as soon as possible, as it will be too late to leave it until the end of the year.

His statements came as health officials admitted that the number of daily Covid-19 infections has remained stable. Sunday’s tally was 7,322, which included 132 imported cases.

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However, the number of related deaths was up sharply at 23, and involved patients aged between 58 and 94.

Lam’s appeal, made during an interview with Commercial Radio, was issued after organizers of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon cancelled November’s race, and the 2023 World Dragon Boat Racing event was moved to Thailand.

Oxfam also just announced that the government just denied permission for the holding of its annual Trailwalker, citing concerns over the number of people taking part.

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Lam said such news have affected the city’s international image.

"I don't want to force [the government's hand] but I must state the voices of those from the business sector," he said during the radio interview.

As a concession, he said the government can adopt the zero plus seven formula initially, but added “it would be even be better if it's zero plus three."

By this he meant inbound travelers would not be required to undergo hotel quarantine but should observe seven days of medical surveillance, during which they will not be allowed to enter high-risk places such as restaurants.

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At the moment, new arrivals are made to undergo three days of hotel quarantine, and then medical surveillance for four more days. During this period, they should do daily self-tests, then PCR tests on the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 9th day of their arrival.

Lam also suggested following the lead of most places by scrapping the pre-boarding requirement for a negative PCR test result, saying it has become more difficult to arrange such tests overseas.

Meanwhile, Dr Albert Au of the Centre for Health Protection echoed a statement made earlier by Health Secretary Lo Chung-mao that the government is actively studying the adoption of the zero plus seven quarantine scheme.

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Au said authorities will look into the global pandemic response as well as local data in deciding whether it should revise the current quarantine arrangement.

He was less forthcoming about the call to scrap the requirement for a negative test result, saying it could lead to a rise in imported cases.

 “Authorities will carefully consider the suggestion to cancel the requirement (for) inbound travelers to provide negative report of Covid-19, given that the city is seeing the number of imported confirmed cases maintained at 150 every day,” he said.

Expert says travelers are already tested on arrival so they should not be asked for a negative test result anymore

But a government adviser on the pandemic, Dr David Hui, also said the pre-boarding test requirement could already be dropped. 

Speaking in a separate interview today, Hui argued this test may be skipped because most of those allowed to enter have already been double jabbed at least, and are tested on arrival.

According to Dr Sara Ho of the Hospital Authority, a total of 2,650 Covid-19 patients are receiving treatment in public hospitals. They include 56 who are in critical condition and 51 in severe condition.

Among the 23 deceased patients, 17 did not receive the recommended three vaccine doses.

Meanwhile, of the 132 imported cases, 49 were detected on arrival at Hong Kong airport, 34 during the three-day hotel quarantine, 47 during days 4 to 7, and 2 after this period.

There were more than 10 travelers from these countries who tested positive yesterday: United Kingdom, United States, India and Thailand.

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FDW groups stage protest to press for $6k minimum wage

Posted on No comments

By The SUN

 

AMCB leaders say they are hopeful of an increase after their pay was frozen for the past 2 years

About 30 leaders of foreign domestic workers’ organizations staged a protest outside the Central Government Offices in Tamar today, Sunday, to press a call for a minimum wage of $6,014 and food allowance of no less than $3,023 for themselves.

The groups - made up of Filipinos, Indonesians, Thais and Nepalis - said this was the amount that a non-government organization had come up with in determining the “living wage” for all FDWs in Hong Kong.

The current minimum wage of a FDW in Hong Kong is $4,630 with an additional $1,173 given those who are not provided with food by their employers.

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Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, a spokesperson for the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body which organized today’s picket, said they plan to hold other protest actions and information dissemination on Sept 25, which is the last Sunday before the government makes its decision known.

In her speech, Balladares- Pelaez said, “We believe that our demand is righteous, and we know we deserve this.”

She pointed out that FDWs work an average of 16 hours a day, and should be paid a salary that reflects their valuable contribution to Hong Kong society.

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The AMCB leader also said the amount that they are asking for is “not that big”, especially since their salary has been frozen for the past two years because of the pandemic, while inflation has shot up to 4.5% recently.

“We are hopeful that this time, the Hong Kong government will listen to our demand,” she said.

The Nepali contingent had other demands

Recent reports said that because of the drop in the number of FDWs coming into Hong Kong due to the government’s tight pandemic regulations, most of those who are recruited here are paid from between $5,000 to $6,500.

But the FDW population continues to drop, partly because of the “job hopping” tag given by the Immigration Department to some of those whose contracts are terminated prematurely.

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According to Immigration and some legislators who advocate sending home all FDWs whose contracts are terminated, these job-hoppers are taking advantage of the slight easing of rules due to the pandemic by choosing who to work for so they get paid more for working less.

But migrants reject this allegation, saying most FDWs in fact put up with abuse and other difficulties they are made to go through during their employment because they fear losing their jobs.

Many had to borrow heavily to come to Hong Kong so they are not likely to leave their employers on a mere whim, say the migrants.

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Separate delegations from the Filipino, Indonesian, Thai and Nepali migrant communities also spoke at the rally, with each group being represented by four leaders, the maximum number allowed under Hong Kong’s anti-gathering restrictions.

Each group presented a signed petition explaining their demands, which were all accepted by a representative of the Labour Department.

The protest action came just days before the government is set to decide on the new minimum allowable wage for FDWs. The new wage is usually determined at the end of September each year, for implementation starting in October.

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Bagong dating na Pinay, muntik matulog sa labas pagkatapos ng quarantine

Posted on 17 September 2022 No comments

Ni Daisy CL Mandap

 

Hindi tinanggap ng isang hostel sa Chung King Mansions ang Pilipina dahil may yellow code sya

Inabot ng gutom at pagod ang isang bagong dating na Pilipina noong Miyerkules dahil 13 oras siyang napilitang mamalagi sa labas pagkalabas niya ng quarantine hotel sa Tsim Sha Tsui bandang alas nuwebe ng umaga.

Ang dahilan: hindi siya pinatuloy sa tutuluyan niya sanang hostel sa Chung King Mansion dahil naka amber code pa siya, na ang ibig sabihin ay hindi pa siya pwedeng pumasok sa mga lugar na matao o delikado.

Nang ipaalam niya ito sa kanyang employer na nasa Shatin ay sinubukan siyang ilipat sa isang hostel ng Caritas nguni’t hindi din siya pinatuloy.

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Kahit walang pera at gutom ay napilitang umistambay si Lee (hindi tunay na pangalan) sa labas habang naghihintay ng tutulong sa kanya.

Sinubukan daw niyang tawagan ang kanyang agency, nguni’t sinabihan daw siya ng tauhan nito na tapos na ang trabaho nila dahil nakarating na siya sa Hong Kong.

Bandang alas otso ay isang kaibigan niya ang tumawag kay Marites Palma ng Social Justice for Migrant Workers, na agad namang nakipag-ugnayan sa mga grupong maaring sumaklolo kay Lee.

“Hello po,may kababayan po tayong pakalat-kalat pa rin sa labas pagkatapos ng 3 days’ quarantine. Wala pong tumatanggap sa kanya na hotel kasi yellow code pa rin po sya. Ang agency, wala na daw pong pakialam, hindi na sumasagot sa worker,” sabi ni Palma sa isang mensahe.

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Pagkatapos ibigay ang pangalan ng Pilipina at ang numero ng kanyang telepono ay sinabi ni Palma na nasa labas pa rin ito at walang makain.

Eksaktong 8:22pm nang sumagot si Virsie Tamayao, welfare officer ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration sa panawagan ni Palma, at sinabing nakausap na niya ang worker. Kukunin na daw ito ng kanyang employer, at ang agency naman ay sinabihan daw nilang siguraduhin na nakarating na sa bahay ng amo ang Pinay.

Sabi ni Lee sa isang hiwalay na panayam, bandang alas 10 na ng gabi nang makarating siya sa bahay ng kanyang amo sa Shatin. Maganda naman daw ang trato sa kanya doon dahil inilagay siya sa isang kuwarto at pinapadalhan ng masustanyang pagkain nang tama sa oras.

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Hindi lang daw yata siya gustong makihalubilo muna sa ibang tao sa bahay hanggang hindi pa siya nakapag quarantine ng pitong araw dahil may bata sa bahay na iniiwasan nilang mahawa.

Nagpaalala ang Konsulado matapos pagmultahin ng tig $10k ang ilang Pilipino
dahil hindi nagpa test sa takdang araw

Nang marinig ni Cynthia Tellez, general manager ng Mission for Migrant Workers ang tungkol sa kaso ay agad siyang umapela sa Philippine Overseas Labor Office na siguraduhin na inaalalayan ng mga employer at agency ang mga bagong dating para maiwasan ang ganitong problema.

“Hindi nga ba responsibilidad ng employer at ng agency sa bagong dating na migrant domestic worker ang i-guide sila nang maayos?,” tanong ni Tellez.

“Kahit pa may mga papeles o instructions na ibinibigay sa arriving passengers, sa dami ng papeles na ibinibigay sa iyo, minsan nga kahit Tagalog na, nakakalito pa rin. Maiging linawin yan sa parehong employer at agency.”

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Dagdag ni Tellez, kailangang ipaunawa sa mga employer, na siya namang nagdala sa manggagawa dito, at sa agency, na kumita sa pag recruit dito, na responsibilidad nila pareho na masiguro ang kapakanan at kaligtasan ng worker.

Hindi naman din daw siguro kalabisan sa POLO at sa OWWA na giyahan ang mga employer at agency sa obligasyon nila.

“For POLO, kahit pa napakaraming ginagawa, being pro-active in matters like this will not hurt lalo’t para sa kapakanan ito ng ating nagsisikap na OFWs. Mas nakakaalwan pa,” dagdag pa ni Tellez.

Ayon kay Tellez, dapat gabayan ang mga bagong dating ng kanilang employer at agency 

Matapos makalusot sa kanyang unang pagsubok ay muntik na namang dumaan sa mas malaking problema si Lee.

Nang kamustahin siya ng The SUN kinabukasan ay sinabi niyang maayos naman ang kanyang kalagayan sa kanyang employer. Pero bigla siyang nataranta nang sabihan na kailangan niyang magpa test noong araw ding iyon alinsunod sa patakaran ng Hong Kong.

Batay sa utos ng gobyerno, ang isang bagong dating ay kailangang manatili sa isang tukoy na hotel para sa tatlong araw na quarantine, at magpa PCR test muli sa ika-apat, anim at siyam na araw mula nang sila ay pumasok ng Hong Kong, kundi ay pagmumultahin sila ng $10,000.

Bukod dito ay kailangan din silang mag rapid antigen test mag-isa hanggang sa ika-10 araw, at ipadala sa Department of Health ang resulta sa pamamagitan ng SMS.

Ipinakita ni Lee ang kanyang quarantine order, at ang intindi niya ay sa Linggo, o ika-7 araw niya sa Hong Kong, siya kailangang magpa PCR test ulit.

Ang totoo, iyon ay pagsasabi lang sa kanya na tapos na ang kanyang medical sa araw na iyon, at wala itong kinalaman sa mga araw na dapat ay nagpapa test siya.

Wala daw siyang ibang papeles na hawak na nagsasabi na kailangan niyang lumabas para magpa test ng tatlong beses matapos siyang lumabas ng quarantine hotel. Wala din daw nagsabi sa kanya tungkol dito.

Pero suwerte pa rin siya dahil pagsabi niya sa kanyang employer ay agad siyang pinayagang lumabas sa mga itinakdang araw, at itinuro pa kung saan ang pinakamalapit na community testing centre.

Sobra-sobra din daw ang pinapadala nitong mga pagkain sa kanya sa nagdaang tatlong araw matapos siyang lumipat sa kanilang bahay, kung saan ay may makakasama siyang apat na iba pang domestic worker.

Malas man sa umpisa ay mukhang suwerte naman siya sa among pakikisamahan niya sa darating na dalawang taon.

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Health chief says reopening HK as soon as possible part of govt plan

Posted on No comments

By The SUN

 

Lo says the govt strategy is to open HK to the rest of the world as soon as possible

Lifting the compulsory quarantine for inbound travelers appears to be still on the cards, after Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau said Saturday that the government strategy is to resume international connection as soon as possible.

“This is always on our strategy list,” said Lo in a talk with the media after speaking on a radio program. However, he did not give any time frame for lifting the three-day hotel quarantine, which is followed by four days of medical surveillance.

He was responding to a question on when Hong Kong might return to a period of normalcy.

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Lo also gave an indication that the health code system adopted for the “three-plus-four” quarantine system is working, saying they have not found a single inbound traveler on an amber code entering restaurants.

Thus the government is now looking at moving on to the “zero plus seven” model, meaning, dispensing with hotel quarantine and just putting all new arrivals under the amber code for seven days.

Lo still urged caution, however, saying the recent easing of the fatality rate due to Covid is not the only factor to be considered, but the additional burden on the public healthcare system as more than 350 infected patients are still being admitted to hospitals on a daily basis.

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He made his comments after two big international events traditionally held in Hong Kong have been put on hold or moved to another place where travelers are not made to undergo quarantine.

The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon slated for Nov 20 has been canceled after organizers failed to get immediate government approval, while the 16th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships has been moved to Thailand.

However, a cross-harbor swim fest sponsored by New World Development will go ahead as scheduled on Oct 23, as well as the Rugby Sevens in November.

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Meanwhile, the number of Covid infections remained steady today at 8,278, which included 129 imported cases.

The death tally rose to 16, of whom 10 did not complete three vaccine doses. They included the four-year-old boy whose death was reported yesterday, and 15 others aged 56 to 98. Most had chronic ailments.

The additional deaths took the overall tally in the fifth wave to 9,655.

Dr Sara Ho of the Hospital Authority said that as of this morning, 2,690 patients were receiving treatment in public hospitals.

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Among them, 56 are in critical condition and 54 are seriously ill. Sixteen of those listed as critical are being treated in intensive care units.

Of the 129 imported cases, 52 were detected at the airport, 37 during hotel quarantine and 33 between days 4 to 7 after arrival. Seven others were found after this period, but are suspected to be re-positive cases.

Two countries were the source of more than 10 positive cases – 20 had flown in from the United States and 18 from the Philippines.

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Bagsak muli ang piso - 57.43 na ang palit nito kumpara sa US dollar

Posted on 16 September 2022 No comments

Ng The SUN

Bagsak din ang halaga ng presyo ng stocks sa Pilipinas kasabay ng pagbaba ng halaga ng piso (PNA)
 
Patuloy ang paglakas ng US dollar, at kasabay nito ang pagbagsak naman ng halaga ng pera sa maraming bansa, katulad ng Pilipinas. 

Nagsara ang palitan ngayong Biyernes sa Php57.43 sa bawa’t US dollar, ang pinakamababa sa kasaysayan ng bansa.

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Dahil naka-peg sa USD ang HKD ay tumaas din ang palitan nito sa piso. Sa ngayon ang bawat HK$1 ay may kapalit na Php7.30.

Ayon sa samahan ng mga bangko sa Pilipinas, bumaba sa hanggang 57.44 ang palitan sa USD at piso ngayong araw, bago tumaas nang bahagya bago matapos ang takdang oras ng pagsasara ng palitan.

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Simula ngayong pagpasok ng taon ay nawala na ang 11% ng halaga ng piso kumpara sa US dollar.

Sabi ng mga eksperto, malamang na bumaba hanggang sa 58 o 60 ang palitan nito sa USD bago matapos ang taon dahil sa nakikitang patuloy na paglakas ng tinatawag na 'greenback,' ang pera ng Amerika. 

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Lumalakas ang USD dahil sa pagpataw ng bansa ng mas mataas na interest rate, na ang resulta ay ang patuloy na paghatak pababa naman sa pera ng maraming bansa sa Asya, kabilang ang Pilipinas, at pati na rin ang United Kingdom at buong European Union.

Sa darating na linggo ay nakatakdang magpulong muli ang US Federal Reserve Board at inaasahang magtataas muli ng interest rate, dahilan para muling lumakas ang US dollar kumpara sa pera ng ibang bansa.

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Tuwing dumaraan sa krisis ang buong mundo, katulad ng kasalukuyang pandemya dala ng Covid-19 ay tumataas ang inflation rate at umaatras ang maraming namumuhunan o investor, at ang resulta ay ang patuloy na paglakas ng US dollar.

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Filipina DH, Indonesian recruiter found guilty of offering fake jobs, money laundering

Posted on No comments

 

Marijane Biscocho is convicted on 19 charges and Lennis Ebrahim, on two counts of money laundering (File)

A Filipina domestic helper and an Indonesian owner of employment agencies were today found guilty at the District Court on 21 various charges relating to the recruitment of Filipinos for non-existent jobs in Hong Kong and Macau.

Marijane Biscocho, 45, was convicted on 20 of the charges, ranging from offering the bogus jobs to breaching her condition of stay and money laundering.

Lennis Ebrahim, 56, for whom Biscocho had worked parttime, was found guilty on a charge of money laundering and another on a joint charge with the Filipina of wrongly accepting payment from a job applicant.

Both defendants were found to have been dishonest in giving evidence during the three years that the case was heard on and off, according to a 50-page verdict by Judge Kathie Cheung, which was read to them separately in Ilocano and Cantonese.

Judge Cheung scheduled their sentencing for Sept. 22. They were returned to jail to await their fate.

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Biscocho was found guilty of:

  • 15 counts of wrongly accepting payment of $2,000 to $19,000 for employment agency service to place Filipinos in non-existent jobs such as waiter and factory worker in Hong Kong, as well as waiter and housekeeper in Macau.
  • Two counts of wrongly claiming to their victims that Ebrahim’s two companies – WHT Consultant Company and Remy Consultant Company -- were legitimate employment agencies,
  • One count of breach of condition of stay for illegally working in these companies while on a DH visa, and
  • Handling proceeds of a crime, or money laundering, over a sum of $299,745 found in her Hang Seng Bank account, and another for a sum of $110,500 in an HSBC account in her name.
Together with Ebrahim, Biscocho was convicted of a charge of wrongly accepting a $6,000 payment from a job seeker. 
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Separately, Ebrahim was found guilty of  money laundering in connection with a sum of $331,216 which was found in her HSBC account.

The case arose from complaints by 10 Filipino domestic helpers that they were tricked into paying an unlicensed recruitment firm, WHT Consulting Company in Kwun Tong, Kowloon, for jobs in Hong Kong and Macau for family and friends back home.

The total sum collected from these complainants was $77,000, but there were others who had initially joined the complaint but backed out because of job-related concerns.

When the offered jobs did not materialize and the applicants asked for their money back, Ebrahim moved to a textile warehouse in To Kwa Wan, also in Kowloon, and put up another firm, Remy Consultant Company, which continued offering fake jobs.

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The two were arrested by officers of the Customs and Excise Department officers, who charged them of violating the Trade Description Ordinance by offering non-existent jobs.

In today’s hearing, the prosecution raised the possibility of asking Judge Cheung to issue a compensation order that will require the two to pay back the money they collected from their victims.

The prosecutor also said that while Biscocho had no criminal record, Ebrahim had two past criminal convictions, which he did not specify.

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This was not the first time Ebrahim had been embroiled in illicit operations. In 2016, her employment agency, Vicks Maid Consultant Company, was stripped of its license by the Labour Department for overcharging a job-seeker, and for operating at a place not specified in its license.

 

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Coroner to investigate death of 4-year-old Covid patient as cases climb to nearly 9k

Posted on No comments

By The SUN

 

The boy who was listed in stable condition earlier died suddenly at Tuen Mun Hospital this morning

A four-year-old boy with chronic illness who tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday died early today, according to government doctors. His case has been passed on to the Coroner who will determine the cause of death.

Hospital Authority’s Dr Sara Ho made the disclosure at Friday’s press briefing, during which she also reported the death of 15 other Covid-positive patients, aged 50 to 102.

An additional 8,999 Covid infections were also reported, which included 131 imported cases.

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Ho said the deceased boy, who suffered from a genetic disease and was fed through a tube, tested positive for Covid on a rapid antigen test on Tuesday and was taken to Tin Shui Wai Hospital.

He was moved to the intensive care unit of the Tuen Mun Hospital yesterday due to breathing difficulties but was otherwise in stable condition. However, his condition soon deteriorated and he was declared dead at around 9am today.

The boy had received two Sinovac jabs in April and May.

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Ho said the Coroner will determine the actual cause of the boy’s death.

In the case of the deceased 50-year-old man, Ho said he had complained of stomach ache on Sept 14, and was initially taken to Pok Oi Hospital. A check-up revealed his blood pressure was abnormally low so he was moved to the intensive care unit of Tuen Mun Hospital where he died yesterday.

On admission and during confinement he repeatedly tested negative on RAT and PCR tests. But since he tested positive by RAT on Aug 28 his death has been deemed Covid-related per regulations.

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Ho said nine of the 15 patients whose deaths were reported today had two vaccine doses but no booster shots. They took the total death tally in the fifth wave to 9,639.

The number of hospital admissions was down slightly, at 2,760 Covid patients. Among them, 51 are in critical condition, 57 are in serious condition, and 14 of those listed as critical are in intensive care.

The HA added 360 have recovered from Covid, and 333 have been discharged. 

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Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said that apart from the 15 deaths reported, an 85-year-old man who tested positive for coronavirus on Sept 11 at a community testing centre was found dead at home later on the same day.

The man had cough on Sept 9 and was taken to the CTC the next day to get himself tested.

Chuang also sai a total of 1,014 infections were reported by 656 schools today, involving 885 students and 129 staff.

Thirteen classes in 12 schools for a week after at least two infections were reported in each class.

Three residents in separate care homes for the elderly were also found to have caught the virus. Four other residents were put under quarantine.

Of the 131 imported cases, 62 were detected at the airport, 29 at quarantine hotels and 40 in the community, four of which were deemed to be re-positive.

Four countries had more than 10 positive cases each: United Kingdom, 23; Thailand, 18; United States, 14; and the Philippines, 12.

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