bc magazine

Covid Test Needed to Enter Bars & Clubs

From today you will need a negative RAT test to enter local bars and clubs.

“Patrons are required to present proof of a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) result obtained within 24 hours before entering bars, pubs, clubs or nightclubs from June 16 to 29” announced Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan.

According to the government announcement, customers will need to show a photo of the RAT device with their name, testing date and time written on it as proof of taking the test – before they can enter.

Local illustrator surrealhk perfectly captures the new rule.

Amendments to CAP599 Make Refusal to Surrender Pet a Criminal Offence

On 31 March 2022 new amendments to The Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance and Regulation (Cap 599 and 599A) took effect that make the refusal, obstruction or failure to surrender a pet that “a health officer reasonably believes has been infected with a specific disease”, a criminal offence – punishable on conviction by a fine and imprisonment.

A question concerning the obstruction of members of the public from complying with the order of surrendering high-risk animals arose in the Legislative Council on 6 April 2022.

Question: In January this year, samples of hamsters collected from a pet shop were tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 virus. To minimise the risks of spreading the epidemic, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) strongly advised members of the public to surrender their hamsters purchased from local pet shops which involved two import consignments to the AFCD for humane dispatch. However, some people stopped members of the public from surrendering hamsters to the AFCD outside the New Territories South Animal Management Centre of the AFCD, and took over the hamsters concerned. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether the existing legislation (including the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance (Cap. 139) and the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), as well as the related subsidiary legislation) expressly empowers the AFCD, the Department of Health or other government departments to (i) order members of the public to surrender a particular type of animals kept by them on the ground that there is a risk of virus transmission from such type of animals to humans, and (ii) impose penalties on those persons who obstruct members of the public from complying with such an order; if so, of the reasons why the relevant government departments did not exercise such powers in the aforesaid incident…

A written response from Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan confirmed that existing legislation under Cap. 599 and Cap 599A, provide that if a health officer has reason to believe that an article (including an animal), is, or may have been, infected with a specified infectious disease, the health officer may order a disease control measure to be carried out in respect of the article or destroy the article.

Obstructing, or assisting to obstruct a health officer from performing their function is a criminal offence and offenders are liable on conviction to a fine of HK$5,000 and to imprisonment for 2 months.

The recent amendments provide clear regulations requiring the owner of an article (including an animal) to surrender the article upon a health officer’s direction. The maximum penalty for non-compliance is HK$10,000 and imprisonment of 6 months upon conviction (see section 3 and section 7 of Cap. 599).

The implications are that in future the public or animal welfare groups may face serious penalties if they are found to obstruct or not comply with the directions of health officers in relation to the seizure of pets.

Additional reporting images: www.hkalpo.com

Free Anti-Covid Packs

The Government has announced that they will start distributing the anti-epidemic service bags to all households in Hong Kong on 2 April.

The free anti-epidemic service bags contain 10 rapid test kits, 10 KN95 face masks and proprietary Chinese medicine and will be distributed directly to most households within 7 days. Or members of the public can collect a bag at their local District Office.

The service bags will be first distributed to the grassroots, such as tenants of “three-nil” buildings and subdivided units and will then be delivered to the residents in other buildings. For households that cannot be reached during door-to-door distribution, the staff distributing the bags will leave a collection slip for the households to collect the anti-epidemic service bags during the second phase.

District Offices will set up about 90 distribution points during the second phase (7-13 April) for people who cannot receive anti-epidemic service bags through the above channels, including households who cannot be reached during door-to-door visits, to collect the bags at the stations.

Restricted Exterior Access Isolation Centre at Lok Ma Chau Loop

Factwire have written a long article about the new isolation centre “First instance of Wuhan Huoshenshan blueprint with restricted exterior access being built in Hong Kong’s Lok Ma Chau Loop”

//As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases gradually fall in Hong Kong, authorities continue construction on a large “container hospital”. As of today, Factwire has observed that the layouts of the “container hospital” and quarantine facilities apparently do not allow direct egress from rooms to the outdoors.

The architecture and layout of the facilities bear a distinct resemblance to Wuhan’s Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals, where patients are quarantined in double rooms with shared toilet facilities, and are attached to, inter alia, a common operating room, ICU department, and computed tomography (CT) rooms. This appears to be the first instance of the Huoshenshan/Leishenshan(火神山/雷神山) blueprint being used to build a structure in Hong Kong.

The Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan had expressed earlier, via an online publication, that the Lok Ma Chau Loop facility would be staffed and operated by medical personnel from mainland China.

The government announced in early March that the Lok Ma Chau facility, scheduled to begin operation in April of 2022, would comprise some 1,000 hospital beds and allow an occupancy of 10,000 quarantined individuals.

Wen Wei Po reported yesterday that the construction was slated to be completed on April 5, 2022 and that the finished facility would contain three operating rooms and 100 ICU beds. The Chinese government appointed the China Construction Science and Industry Corporation – the same firm that built the Huoshenshan and Leishenshan facilities in Wuhan – to the project in Lok Ma Chau Loop…..//

Article continues on Factwire www.factwire.org/en/first-instance-of-wuhan-huoshenshan-blueprint-with-restricted-exterior-access-being-built-in-hong-kongs-lok-ma-chau-loop/

Social Distancing Measures Relaxed from 21 April

Yet more illogical changes to Hong Kong’s social distancing measures. Why is it ‘safe’ to go to the cinema or have a massage – yet not sit on the beach in the sun where the sunshine can kill the virus and help strengthen the bodies defences against the virus. Why can four people sit in a restaurant to drink and eat but not in a bar?…

Social distancing measures will be relaxed from 21 April in three phases over a period of three months. Use of LeaveHomeSafe and Vaccine Pass upon entering premises will still be required.

Phase 1:

• Reopening of amusement game centres, fitness centres, places of amusement, places of public entertainment, beauty parlours and massage establishments, sports premises, event premises and religious premises, where the number of persons per group gathering will be 4 generally.

• Relaxation of dine-in service hours at catering premises to 10pm, with the maximum number of persons allowed per table increased to 4; bars/pubs to remain closed.

• Reopening of all sports premises, museums, performance venues and libraries under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

• Masks-on all the time (including when doing exercise) except under necessary circumstances, e.g. eating or drinking at catering premises, receiving facial treatment at beauty parlours.

• Relaxation of the restriction on the maximum number of persons per group gathering in a public place to 4; cancellation of the prohibition on multi-household gatherings at private premises involving more than 2 households.

Phase 2:

• Reopening of the remaining scheduled premises, i.e. swimming pools, bathhouses, party rooms, clubs/nightclubs, karaoke establishments, mahjong/tin kau premises and cruise ships; relaxation of the restriction on the maximum number of persons per table/group gathering at scheduled premises to 8 by and large.

• Reopening of beaches under Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

• Masks-off allowed in outdoor areas of country parks, when engaging in strenuous physical activities in outdoor public places, at sports premises and fitness centres, etc.

• Further relaxation of dine-in service hours at catering premises to midnight, with the maximum number of persons allowed per table increased to 8; reopening of bars/pubs, with the opening hours until midnight/2am and maximum number of persons allowed per table at 4

Phase 3:

• Lifting of the restrictions on the maximum number of customers in terms of capacity limit, business/dine-in hours, maximum number of persons per group gathering, etc. at all catering premises (including bars/pubs) and scheduled premises

The Government Covid website is www.coronavirus.gov.hk

Flight Ban Ends 1 April 2022, Quarantine Rules Revised

With over 50% of Hong Kong’s population infected or recovering from Covid. What need is there for hotel quarantine (apart from hotel profits) unless a person fails a PCR test on arrival?

With effect from 1 April, the “flight ban” on the nine countries (Australia, Canada, France, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States of America) will be lifted.

Quarantine arrangements, under Cap. 599E, for all arrivals to be rationalised as follows:
Only Hong Kong Residents who are fully vaccinated can board a flight for Hong Kong.

A negative PCR-based nucleic acid test, taken within 48 hours of departure.

Confirmation of room reservation in a Designated Quarantine Hotel (DQH) for at least 7 nights.

“Test and hold” upon arrival in Hong Kong, where a rapid PCR-based nucleic acid test will be conducted; upon a negative test result, a 14-day Quarantine Order will be issued and designated transport taken to go to the DQH.

During the quarantine period, daily RATs will be conducted and PCR-based nucleic acid tests on Day 5 and (if still in the DQH) on Day 12.

If the results of Day 5 PCR-based nucleic acid test and Day 6 and 7 RATs are all negative, early discharge from the DQH will be allowed

If early discharge is opted for: self-monitoring for 7 days, with a PCR-based nucleic acid test conducted at a community testing centre on Day 12.

Otherwise: a PCR-based nucleic acid test conducted in the DQH on Day 12, followed by discharge from the DQH on Day 14 upon a negative result

If the result of the PCR-based nucleic acid test during “test and hold”, Day 5 or 12 PCR based nucleic acid test or daily RAT is positive, transfer to a community isolation hotel will be arranged with an Isolation Order issued.

The isolation and discharge arrangements will be the same as those for local cases in isolation, i.e. completion of isolation for leading a normal life upon Day 6 and 7 RAT negative results

The Government Covid website is www.coronavirus.gov.hk

Letter of Covid Frustration

A Hong Kong resident has written an open letter to Chief Executive Carrie Lam – and posted it across social media – which pretty much sums up most Hongkongers’ frustrations with the government’s inept and incompetent handling of the Covid19 pandemic.

“Dear Chief Executive

I am writing to express not only my dissatisfaction but also my incomprehension and, frankly, disgust at your policies for dealing with Covid in Hong Kong.

Time and time again you announce a policy, often contradictory to other, recent, announcements that fly in the face of science, medicine and the public good.

You, personally, have taken Hong Kong from zero to the world’s worst outbreak in under 30 days and this is, solely, a result of your indecisiveness and poor decision making. I find it very difficult to believe that your scientific and medical advisors have steered you into this course of action, one that flies in the face of the evidence from the rest of the world.

You have opened hair salons but closed beaches – please explain the thought process behind this to me.

You place no restrictions upon public transport, including the densely packed MTR, but a family of 3 have to sit at two separate tables in a restaurant despite living in the same apartment. How does this prevent the spread of the virus?

Arriving in Hong Kong and testing negative means that a traveller must spend 14 days, at their own expense, in a quarantine hotel (assuming that they can even get a booking) yet arriving and testing positive sees one carted off to a government paid-for facility and released after a negative test on the 6th day. Please, if you can, explain the logic of this to me.

Why do we have 9 countries on the flight ban list when their situations are less severe than that of Hong Kong? Can you explain how it is more dangerous for Hong Kong to let people come home than it is for us to be able to travel?

Can you justify to me why, as I look to travel home to the UK to see my father for what may well be the very last time, I need to be looking at an absolute minimum of 6 weeks away from my family in Hong Kong? Why the travel and cost constraints that you are imposing mean that I can’t even take them with me?

Why have you not worked harder to get the population vaccinated, particularly the elderly, whilst making those of us who have suffered restrictions on our lives? Why haven’t the consumption vouchers been linked to vaccination status?

You know the answer to these questions, we know that you know and you know that we know – so why, for the love of all that is decent, do you persist with this idiocy? If you, truly, cannot see the errors in your decision making to date then you have absolutely no business being in any position of power.

Your actions to date have seen hundreds of, preventable, deaths, thousands of people lose their jobs and livelihoods, businesses close, mental health decline across all demographics, children’s education suffers, and the diminishment of Hong Kong’s reputation as a business centre and a city of stable government. You have done more, in 18 months, to damage Hong’s people, economy and reputation than any bad actor could ever dream to do, and you are supposed to be on our side.

You must, surely, understand that zero Covid, whether ‘dynamic’ or otherwise is an impossibility? If you haven’t, by now, accepted the advice from medical professionals that this virus is never going away then you must, by implication, be deliberately choosing ignorance. If you have not, by now, accepted that we need to start living, fully, with the virus and work towards restoring Hong Kong to its former status and vibrancy then, frankly, you have no business acting as our leader.

I am sharing this letter on social media not to wallow in my own misery, mine is just one story amongst thousands, but because I want you to see this. I don’t just want to send you an email and receive an anodyne reply from a junior member of your staff.

I, very much, hope that you will find the decency to reply.”

Pharmacy Home Isolation Support Service Launched

The Practicing Pharmacists Association of Hong Kong has set up a home isolation support services with professional advice, online dispensaries and home delivery to relieve congestion and shorten queues at physical shops.

WhatsApp +852 6903 1813

Please be patient as operators will prioritize emergency cases.

They’re looking for funding to cover delivery fees for anyone in need.