By
Daisy CL Mandap
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| Tower 11 of Caribbean Coast where the infected FDH lives, is under lockdown (RTHK) |
A Filipina domestic helper who has never left Hong
Kong since 2019 is reported to have caught the highly infectious coronavirus
variant, N501Y, from an unknown source, the first case of its kind in the city.
The infection of the 39-year-old helper triggered the
evacuation and transfer to quarantine centers of about 400 residents of Tower
11 at Caribbean Coast in Tung Chung where she lives.
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The residential block was earlier put under an
overnight lockdown while all residents were tested for coronavirus infection.
A 10-month-old baby girl under the helper’s care has
also been found to have Covid-19 but further tests are still being conducted to
find out if she, too, has the variant. The baby’s parents, said to be a primary
school teacher and a psychologist, have tested negative for coronavirus.
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The controller of the Centre for Health Protection,
Dr. Ronald Lam, said no link was found between the helper’s infection and
previous variant cases detected in Hong Kong.
“This is the first local infection of a coronavirus
variant via an unknown source in the Hong Kong community,” Lam said. “We think
the situation is critical. We are very concerned and must take it seriously.”
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Investigations showed that during the incubation
period the helper had taken part in a choir at St Thomas the Apostle Church in
Tsing Yi, went to market at Fu Tung Plaza, and stayed at Man Tung Park, both in
Lantau. She also visited Fusion Shop at Caribbean Bazaar and the Citygate
outlet mall in Tung Chung.
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| The helper sang in the choir of St Thomas the Apostle Church in Tsing Yi |
Anyone who had been to these places from Apr 9 to 29 must undergo compulsory testing by May 1 under an order issued by health authorities shortly after the helper’s infection was confirmed.
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The latest local case found with the mutated virus is
the second involving a Filipina domestic worker. The first, a 38-year-old
helper, was found infected five days after ending her 21-day quarantine at the
Ramada Harbour View Hotel in Sai Ying Pun.
Before them, an Indian man who arrived in late March
from Dubai, was also found to have the variant, 10 days after finishing his
quarantine at the Ramada Grand Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui
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In a separate press statement issued late on Thursday,
the CHP urged employer to remind their domestic helpers to avoid gatherings and
dining out together.
“If they have to attend gatherings, they should wear a
mask at all times, wash their hands frequently and maintain social distancing
so as to safeguard their personal health,” said the statement. “Employers are
also urged to pay attention to the health condition of their domestic helpers
and they should seek medical attention immediately if symptoms develop.”
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Separately, the CHP issued a compulsory testing notice on quarantine-exempt people who had taken Cathay Pacific flight CX 906 which arrived in Hong Kong from Manila on Apr 14, after three of its passengers, all Filipina helpers, were found to carry the variant. Two were detected on arrival at the airport, while the third tested positive on her 12th day of hotel quarantine.
“For prudence’s sake, persons exempted by the Chief
Secretary for Administration from compulsory
quarantine under section 4(1) of the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving
at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E) who had taken that
flight have to undergo compulsory testing by April 30,” said the statement.
Among those exempted from quarantine
are flight crews and senior foreign diplomats and dignitaries.
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