The SUN HK : Quarantined persons told to stop using valve masks

By The SUN

Valve masks filter the air coming in, but not what the wearer exhales

Hong Kong authorities have officially banned newly arrived travelers staying at designated quarantine hotels from using masks fitted with a valve or vent.

In a statement issued tonight, Nov. 24, the government said that “a person under compulsory quarantine at a designated quarantine hotel and his or her accompanying carer must not wear a mask with any exhalation valve or vent.”

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The order follows experts’ conclusion that a returnee from South Africa had passed on the coronavirus with the N501Y mutant strain to a man in the opposite room in Regal Airport Hotel because he wore a valve mask whenever he opened his room door.

A microbiologist who investigated the cross-infection said the so-called “selfish mask” mainly filtered air that the wearer was inhaling, but not what he or she exhaled.

PRESS FOR DETAILS!

“The risk posed to surrounding people will be increased if the wearer is infected with novel coronavirus or other respiratory viruses,” the government advisory said.

The CHP advised quarantined people to wear surgical masks properly during check-in or when they open their hotel room door to effectively prevent the transmission of Covid-19. At the same time, hotel staff and air crew are advised to remind guests and passengers not to use valve masks.

CLICK THIS TO REGISTER FOR FREE!

No penalty was mentioned, but if similar quarantine-related guidelines are used as gauge, a violation could incur a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.

Court heard the woman left her quarantine hotel twice in one day

Meanwhile, a 37-year-old woman who left her quarantine hotel twice during her 14-day mandatory isolation was sentenced in Kowloon Court today to imprisonment for two weeks, suspended for 18 months.

According to a government statement, the woman left her place of quarantine twice on Jul 18 without reasonable excuse or permission by an authorized officer.

PRESS FOR MORE DETAILS

Breaching a compulsory quarantine order is a criminal offence and offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.

As of today, a total of 202 offenders have been convicted for breaching quarantine rules and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to 14 weeks or a fine of up to $15,000.

Separately, the CHP reported one more confirmed case of Covid-19 today, taking the total tally to 12,411 confirmed cases and one probable case.

BASAHIN ANG KWENTONG DREAM LOVE

The patient is an eight-year-old girl who arrived in Hong Kong from Korea on Nov 13, and was moved to Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre as a close contact of an imported case confirmed previously.

She developed symptoms on Nov 22, and a specimen she gave then tested positive for the coronavirus with the L452R mutant strain.