3 FDHs with mutated virus linked to carrier from Dubai

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

A gathering in this Shamshuipo building was attended by the 3 Filipina DHs

Health authorities have uncovered a direct link between an Indian returnee from Dubai who was identified as the first local case with the N501Y variant of the coronavirus, and three Filipina domestic workers recently found to also carry the mutant strain.

According to a press statement issued by the Centre for Health Protection on Wednesday night, two separate family gatherings appeared to have spread the variant among the index patient, his Filipina girlfriend, and the three Filipina DHs. 

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Extensive contact tracing reportedly showed that the man who ended his 21-day hotel quarantine on Apr 9 (case no 11643) and his girlfriend who he apparently infected (11672) joined the woman’s family at a gathering on Apr 13 at Fung Hing House of Hing Wah Estate in Chai Wan.

On Apr 18, a Sunday, three of the guests at the Chai Wan gathering had another party at their home at 37 Fuk Wing Street in Sham Shui Po. Present at the gathering were cases 11773 (the FDH who lives in Caribbean Coast, Tung Chung); 11793 (who lives in Kornhill Garden, Quarry Bay) and 11797 (lives in Royalton, Pokfulam).

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Following this discovery, the CHP sent everyone who attended both gatherings to a quarantine center. 

Everyone who stayed at the Sham Shui Po building from Apr 15 to May 5 have been told to undergo undergo compulsory testing before May 7. 

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As a compulsory testing order was issued on May 3 to residents of Fung Hing House due to the result of a sewage sample test, people who had stayed in the building from Apr 30 to May 3 will also have to undergo testing by May 6. 

The Citygate Outlet mall was originally thought of as the link between the cases

The same order was issued to the workplaces of two guests at the gathering: Urban Bakery Works at Shop 322, 3/F, Landmark Atrium and Oliver's the Delicatessen at Shop 201-2, 2/F, Landmark Prince's. Everyone who had visited either of these places from Apr 15 to May 5 should undergo testing by May 7.

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Because of the latest findings, cases 11773 and 11793 have been reclassified as local cases linked to previous infections. 

The first, which involves a 39-year-old Filipina living in Tung Chung, had previously been described as the first local case of a variant carrier with an unknown source. 

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The second, pertaining to the 46-year-old Filipina living in Kornhill Garden, was also classified as local with an unknown source. Her 38-year-old friend from Pokfulam, case no 11797, was linked to her. 

The index case in the cluster is a 29-year-old Indian man who arrived in Hong Kong on Mar 19 from Dubai. He tested negative during his 21-day hotel quarantine, and went on to live with his girlfriend in Parkes Building in Jordan.

He was found to carry the South African variant after he got himself tested on Apr 14, in preparation for his return to Dubai.

Coincidentally, he and his girlfriend had visited Citygate Outlet mall in Tung Chung on the same day that the Filipina living in Caribbean Coast was there, leading investigators to initially believe the infection happened there. 

More details of the Indian man’s whereabouts during the incubation period came out after investigations showed his variant had exactly the same genetic sequencing as that found in his girlfriend and the Filipina in Tung Chung. 

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Jobless Pinoy accused of breaking into former workplace and stealing $3k

By Vir B. Lumicao 

The jobless man was charged with burglary in Eastern Court

A jobless Filipino man was charged with burglary in court Wednesday, Mar 5, after he allegedly broke into a restaurant where he used to work, and took off with $3,000. 

A. M. Trono, 26, was charged with the offense before Eastern Court Magistrate Peter Law. 

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He was arrested on the night of May 2 after the alleged break-in at The Comptoir restaurant in Sai Wan, Hong Kong. Staff who arrived for work the next day saw that the cash was missing and called the police.

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The prosecutor said a review of CCTV footage at the restaurant showed the accused using a key to gain entry.

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At the prosecution’s request, Law adjourned the case until Jun 17 for further inquiry.

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The defense lawyer applied for bail of $2,000 citing the long adjournment, but the prosecution objected.

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Law granted bail, but ordered the defendant not to contact the restaurant or go there, in addition to not leaving Hong Kong, staying at the address he supplied the court, and reporting to police every week.

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Migrants call for Law’s apology as they claim victory over forced jab recall

By Vir B. Lumicao 

Hundreds of FDWs were exposed to the elements while getting themselves tested

A migrant support group is claiming victory over the government’s decision to back down from a plan to require all foreign domestic helpers applying for a work visa in Hong Kong to get vaccinated.

The Asian Migrants Coordinating Body also said in a press conference held Wednesday that Labour Secretary Law Chi-kwong should apologize for saying FDHs who don’t want to comply with the order should work elsewhere.

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The group vowed to continue opposing mandatory test and vaccination for migrant workers, saying the “discriminatory” moves could be restored by the government anytime. 

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said before an Executive Council meeting on Tuesday that requiring FDHs applying for work visas in Hong Kong to get vaccinated first was just a plan that was still being studied 

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She said consulates of countries that send migrant workers to Hong Kong would be consulted first on the likely impact of enforcing such an order. 

“While we welcome the chief executive’s decision, we continue to call for the scrapping of any mandatory vaccination policy that singles out foreign domestic workers,” said Dolores Balladares, a spokesperson for the AMCB.

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She urged the government to also hold consultations with migrant domestic workers’ organizations, unions and NGOs as the policy impacts their bodies, health and work.

Balladares also wants the forced testing of MDWs halted

Balladares called for a halt to the ongoing mandatory testing of MDWs, which she said exposes the workers to health risks as they stand close together under the sun and  rain for hours waiting to get tested.

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“The Hong Kong government must stop implementing policies of discrimination and social exclusion in their pandemic response. Instead, we hope that they learned from the united response of the migrant domestic workers and the local community against the discriminatory policy,” she said.

Johannie Tong, community relations officer of the Mission for Migrant Workers, said the mandatory testing of MDWs from May 1 to 9 has caused a lot of burden and trouble for the migrant workers and the employers.

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“Since we know that all lines of community testing are mostly full, some of them waited for five hours and some of them queued up at 4am. Such requirement for migrant domestic workers also increased unnecessary conflict and tension between the (MDWs) and their employers,” Tong said.

Tong urged the government to revoke the mandatory testing notice and set the migrant workers free from the threat of fines and penalties.

“As well, we welcome the announcement of Chief Executive Carrie Lam yesterday to rethink the policy of making Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for their future visa application,” Tong said.

She also said she hoped the Hong Kong government will treat migrant domestic workers as equals and not impose policies that are unfair and discriminatory.

Fielding a media question, Balladares said the government has not involved migrant organizations in the consultations, while they are the ones targeted by the mandatory test and vaccination.

Sringatin, who is also an AMCB spokesperson, said some migrant workers fell sick after the first two days of the mandatory testing because they had to stand in line outside testing centers for hours where they were exposed to the elements.

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Recruiter arrested for lying to FDH while another agency loses license

By The SUN 

The agency staff allegedly failed to submit an applicant's work contract as promised

​A female employment agency staff in Yuen Long was arrested Tuesday by Customs officers on suspicion of applying false trade descriptions to a service her company supplied by lying to a foreign domestic helper jobseeker about her application.

The arrest came a day after an employment agency in Taipo had its license revoked by the Labour Department for reportedly failing to meet the requirements set out in the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies.

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Officers arrested the agency staff after she falsely claimed that the helper’s work application had already been submitted to the relevant government department for processing, the department said in a government press release.

The job applicant later found out that the claim of the 25-year-old agency staff was false, so she filed a complaint.

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When Customs received the information, it investigated a possible contravention of the TDO that led to the arrest of the woman yesterday, May 4.

Investigation is ongoing and the arrested woman has been released on bail pending further inquiry, the Customs said.

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The department reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and advised consumers to procure services at reputable shops.

The Customs also urged the public to report suspected violations of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

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Meanwhile, the Labour Department announced on May 3 that it revoked the license of Hong Kong Maid Agency for failing to have reasonable knowledge of the requirements and standards set out in the Code.

The LD said in a press release that Hong Kong Maid failed to include all required items in service agreements signed with employers.

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The agency failed to arrange for foreign domestic helpers to confirm in writing that they have been fully briefed about their rights and obligations, and it also failed to keep records relating to the dealings with FDHs.

The requirements also include the FDHs’ acknowledgement that they received the sample standard employment contract in their mother language, the LD said.

In addition, the licensee of the employment agency was also considered not a fit and proper person to operate an EA, the LD said.

Under relevant sections of the Employment Ordinance, the Commissioner for Labour may revoke the license of an EA if he is satisfied that the licensee concerned has not complied with the Code, or is not a fit and proper person to operate an EA.

“The Code sets out the salient legal requirements that EA operators must observe in operating their business, as well as the minimum standards which the Commissioner expects from EAs,” a spokesman for the LD said.

This is the first revocation of an employment agency license in 2021. Last year, three agencies had their licenses revoked for failing to comply with the Code’s legal requirements, the LD said. 

For enquiries about matters relating to EAs or complaints about their malpractices, call the Employment Agencies Administration at 2115 3667, or visit its office at Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon. 

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Residents of 260 flats sent to quarantine after 2 FDHs found with mutated virus

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

Residents of 230 units in Kornhill Garden were locked down before being sent to quarantine

Hundreds of people living in Kornhill Garden in Quarry Bay and Royalton in Pokfulam will be sent to quarantine after two Filipina DHs were confirmed today, May 5, to carry the mutated strain of the coronavirus.

According to a statement released by the Centre for Health Protection, a 46-year-old woman living in Kornhill Garden was found positive for the N501Y variant after getting herself tested on May 3 in compliance with a compulsory testing notice for FDHs.

Her 38-year-old friend who is also a FDH and lives in Royalton, was subsequently found infected as well. They became the 4th and 5th Filipina DHs to have been found within Hong Kong with the  dreaded variant.

The buildings where they live with their employers were locked down since midnight last night, and all people living there were subjected to compulsory testing, before being moved to a quarantine camp.

The CHP said the residents who will be quarantined for 21 days in a government facility live in 230 units of Block N2 of Kornhill Garden and 30 units in Royalton.

The two are among six confirmed cases reported today. Three are imported, and three are local cases, one of which is of unknown source, pertaining to the FDH in Kornhill. The case of her friend who lives in Royalton has been linked to her.

30 flats in Royalton were also locked down overnight (RTHK photo)

The third is the female employer of the Filipina DH living in Caribbean Coast in Tung Chung who was also found to be a variant carrier. Both the 36-year-old employer who teaches at a primary school in Tung Chung and her 10-month-old baby girl have also tested positive for the variant.

The three imported cases are all returnees from Nepal who were found infected while under hotel quarantine.

The new cases drove up Hong Kong’s total Covid-19 tally to 11,797.

The CHP said investigations and contact tracing on the newly confirmed cases are ongoing.

Meanwhile, all residents are urged to avoid going out and having social contact, while the elderly should stay at home as far as possible. All non-essential travel outside Hong Kong is also being discouraged.

For the latest updates on the epidemic situation, visit the "Covid-19 Thematic Website" at www.coronavirus.gov.hk. Access to information is also available via the WhatsApp Helpline run by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer at 9617 1823, or by clicking the link wa.me/85296171823?text=hi.

HK lifts flight ban on UK, keeps it for Philippines & 5 others

By The SUN

Flights from UK & Ireland which have been suspended since Dec will resume on Friday

Hong Kong has announced that it will lift the flight ban on the United Kingdom and Ireland on Friday, May 7, on condition “that there be no significant change to the epidemic situation locally and in these two places.”

But a similar suspension of flights from five other countries, including the Philippines, is being kept on the basis that the epidemic situation is still unstable in these places categorized as “extremely high risk.” 

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The other countries in this category are India, Pakistan, Nepal, Brazil and South Africa.

The decision was announced in a government statement released late on Tuesday.

At the same time, Health Secretary Dr Sophia Chan told legislators that the government plans to shorten the quarantine period for fully vaccinated residents who fly back to the city. But she said details have yet to be worked out.

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The flight suspension on the Philippines, India and Pakistan was imposed on Apr 20, and was meant to last for only two weeks. But the recent discovery of locally-acquired coronavirus variants prodded Hong Kong to say that the ban would be reviewed every two weeks, and not lapse automatically.

The announcement on Apr 29 also said that Nepal was being added to the list of places considered as “extremely high risk,” and thus subject to the same flight ban.

Under this category previously were the UK, Ireland, Brazil and South Africa, places where the highly infectious variants were first found in December last year.

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Hong Kong said it was allowing residents who had been waiting to go back home from the UK and Ireland to return starting on Friday, citing as reasons the “stabilizing local epidemic situation and relatively satisfactory vaccination rate” in the two countries.

“Persons returning to Hong Kong from these two places can board for flights for Hong Kong after they have obtained a negative result for a Covid-19 test with samples taken 72 hours prior to departure, as well as confirmation of a 21-night room reservation in a designated quarantine hotel,” said the statement. 

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On arrival in Hong Kong, all returnees will be tested at the airport and held until their test results come out. All those who test negative will be taken to designated hotels for their 21-day compulsory  quarantine, and tested at least three times during the period. They will again be tested on the 26^th day of their arrival, after leaving quarantine.

Dr Chan tells Legco the quarantine period for fully vaccinated residents will be shortened

Meanwhile, under the strict boarding requirements, anybody who had stayed in any of the “extremely high risk” places for at least two hours within 21 days prior to their intended return to Hong Kong, will not be allowed to board their flight.

The restrictions were tightened further on Apr 14, when the government declared that any five cases of the mutated virus being found on arrival among passengers from the same flight within a seven-day period would trigger a ban.

This was later expanded to cover 10 or more passengers who test positive for the mutant strain within a week, whether on arrival or during quarantine.

Under Hong Kong’s adjusted grouping of places of origin, the “extremely high risk” countries are classified as Group A1 specified places. Under Group A2 are the “very high risk group” (UK and Ireland); Group B are “high risk” places; Group C are “medium risk” and Group D are “low risk.”

Travelers coming from Group D places (Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore) will only quarantine for 14 days in designated hotels, and will have to be tested at least twice during the period, and on the 19^th day of their arrival in Hong Kong.

But in line with Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s unveiling of the “vaccine bubble” concept on Apr 12, the government plans to shorten the compulsory quarantine period also for persons arriving in Hong Kong who have not stayed in extremely high-risk and very high-risk places, and who have been fully vaccinated.

The government says it will announce the implementation date and details of the scheme shortly.

Details of the group of specified places and their respective boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements can be found at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/high-risk-places.html.     

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Three Filipina DHs found with mutated virus during mass testing

 By Daisy CL Mandap 

Rain or shine, FDHs turn out in droves to beat the May 9 deadline for mass testing

The mandatory testing of all foreign domestic helpers which started on May 1 has uncovered three Filipinas with the mutated variants of the coronavirus.

The first case of a 48-year-old helper was reported as confirmed Tuesday, and caused the evacuation and quarantining of residents in more than 200 flats in Allway Gardens in Tsuen Wan where she lives with her employers.

The two others are friends who had been to several places before the mass testing showed they both carried the mutated variant. They had not left Hong Kong recently.

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After they were classified as preliminary positive, the buildings where they live, the Royalton in Pokfulam and Kornhill Garden Block N2, were put under lockdown starting at midnight. All residents there will be tested starting this morning.

The helper in Tsuen Wan has been classified by health authorities as “possibly local” with unknown sources. She arrived in Hong Kong from Manila on Mar 31, and was released from her 21-day quarantine at Dorsett Hotel in Wanchai after testing negative for Covid-19.

After leaving the hotel on Apr 21, she went to the eighth floor of the Immigration Tower in Wanchai to apply for a HK ID. Three officers who attended to her have been tested and put under quarantine. The office itself had been disinfected since because of another case.

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The worker also visited a clinic in Causeway Bay for a physical check-up, then moved in with her employer’s family the next day,

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said the helper tested positive for antibodies, suggesting she had been infected earlier. But she could have also contracted the infection in the community as she had been going around for awhile.

The two other FDWs found with the highly transmissible variant had visited a McDonald’s outlet on Connaught Road, Central on Apr 25, and the Saizeriya restaurant in the Dragon Centre mall in Sham Shui Po on Sunday, May 2. The day before, they went to a small park near Victoria Park in Causeway Bay.

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The worker in Kornhill Garden shopped at the Quarry Bay market twice a week, while her friend visited a Fairwood outlet and the market in Kennedy Town.

Their other movements are still being investigated.

One of the infected Filipinas lives in Kornhill Garden in Quarry Bay

Meanwhile, also reported as a preliminary case was the female employer of another Filipina helper in with the first untraceable, locally acquired variant who lives in Caribbean Coast, Tung Chung. The employer, who teaches at primary school, also had the coronavirus mutation.

The woman’s 10-month-old baby girl also tested positive for the variant at the same time as their Filipina helper. 

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Both the employer and the helper had been to Citygate Outlets mall in Tung Chung which was visited by two previously identified carriers N501Yvariant, an Indian returnee from Dubai and his girlfriend with whom he lived in Jordan.

Contact tracing showed the Filipina helper was at the mall on the same day that the Indian couple had visited. Earlier investigations showed the helper had the same genetic sequencing for the virus as the Indian returnee, indicating she had been infected by him.

The CHP has issued mandatory testing for anyone who had been to the mall between Apr 11 and 26, when the infected patients had visited. Also at two restaurants visited

The compulsory testing notice was also issued at two restaurants visited by the Indian couple on Apr 10 and 11: Curry Lounge at SeaView Crescent in Tung Chung, and Zaks at Discovery Bay.

Also among four confirmed cases reported Tuesday was a housewife who returned from India a month ago, and was also found to have the mutated virus. The building where she lives in Tsim Sha Tsui was evacuated Monday night following the discovery of her infection.

The two other cases involved foreign domestic helpers who recently arrived from Indonesia.

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