Through media broadcasts, JBMI HK and AMCB questioned and criticized the Hong Kong Ministry of Manpower’s (LD) appeal asking Migrant Domestic Workers to stay at home on their holidays with reasons to maintain health and reduce the risk of spreading the Corona Virus.

In two different media broadcasts, JBMI and AMCB both considered the LD’s appeal as unreasonable as well as unfair and discriminatory against migrant domestic workers.

“Although migrant domestic workers are advised not to go out on their days off, if the employer’s family members are still able to leave the house, then those who go out may still be infected with the Corona virus. As is the case with the conditions that befell Filipino Migrant Domestic Workers who are currently being quarantined because the employer’s relative who has just arrived from Wuhan is infected with the Corona virus,” JBMI’s media broadcast quoted him as saying, Friday (1/31/2020).

JBMI assesses LD’s appeal will not be productive for the performance of migrant domestic workers who work 6 full days with 10-14 hours per day. Holidays are the only time in which migrant domestic workers can rest.

“If you can’t take a day off, then it’s the same as not resting. This condition will only increase the level of fatigue and stress which actually makes migrant domestic workers fall ill,” wrote JBMI.

In addition, according to JBMI, LD’s appeal contradicts the announcements issued by the Center for Health Protection and the Ministry of Health, namely: “Unless directed by the government, then allow your domestic workers to take weekly and national holidays as usual and advise them to avoid visiting places crowded or poorly ventilated areas during times of influenza. Always inform your domestic workers about the latest developments regarding the outbreak situation and any announcements made by the government.”

Referring to the announcement, then the LD should provide the right direction and adequate information that can be used by domestic workers and other workers. LD should convince all employers to provide free preventive tools such as masks, vitamin C, alcohol, and give migrant domestic workers adequate rest.

However, if the employer is not able to provide these needs, then the Hong Kong government should provide and provide it to the community, including migrant domestic workers, so as not to fall ill.

Furthermore, JBMI stated that LD’s appeal was actually also contrary to the Hong Kong government’s own regulation which states that employers will be prosecuted for committing criminal offenses if they prohibit their domestic workers from taking a day off.

“Then why is the Hong Kong government making an appeal that violates its own regulations?” JBMI asked.

According to JBMI, LD’s appeal seems to give the public the impression that migrant domestic workers are potential spreaders of the Corona virus. Whereas migrant domestic workers who have served the Hong Kong community since the 1980s are adults who know how to take care of their own health and those of the people they serve. Provided they are properly informed and provided with the necessary preventive tools, given the very low wages of migrant domestic workers, which is not sufficient to purchase these tools.

“The Hong Kong government can also use online and offline media to educate ethnic minorities in Hong Kong using their native language. Because migrant domestic workers and ethnic minorities are part of the workforce and community that advances Hong Kong’s economy. To ensure the health of employers and the community, the health of migrant domestic workers and ethnic minorities must also be maintained,” demanded JBMI.

In its media broadcast, in addition to responding to LD’s appeal, JBMI also demanded the Indonesian Government through the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong to make every effort, including providing free prevention tools, in order to help its citizens in Hong Kong and Macau.

In line with JBMI, AMCB said it was not the first time that migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong faced an epidemic.

“Remember SARS in 2003? We are here, but we are safe. Migrant domestic workers need a day off and mingle with their community and friends, and organize activities. Although we understand the importance of taking the coronavirus seriously, it should not harm the rights of migrant domestic workers,” said AMCB spokesperson Balladares-Pelaez.

The post Prohibiting Migrant Domestic Workers From Leaving the House on Holidays Is a Discriminatory Action first appeared on Postal Migrant.

Health authorities previously thought the main ways of transmitting the deadly outbreak were through direct contact with saliva droplets, and breathing by an infected person, including touching the face after exposure to surfaces containing the virus.

But new findings from Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital raise the possibility of faecel-oral transmission, after researchers found genetic traces of the coronavirus in patient stool samples. The presence of 2019-nCoV in RNA, or ribonucleic acid – a molecule that carries the genetic code in some viruses – indicates the disease can live in the feces of humans infected with the coronavirus, the Shenzhen Health Commission said.

Similar findings have been presented elsewhere, including in Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus’ first outbreak and the United States, with some scientists saying research suggests it may be transmitted through human feces. Researchers at the Shi Zhengli Laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, run by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, found nucleic acids in stool samples and rectal swabs from a group of coronavirus pneumonia patients in the city.

The scientists concluded that the virus could be transmitted “to some degree” through faecal-oral transmission.

“Doctors, especially gastroenterologists, should pay close attention to the symptoms of pneumonia caused by the corona virus infection, and take appropriate steps to protect themselves from the patient’s vomit and feces,” explained the scientists as quoted by SCMP.

Zhang Qiwei, a professor at Southern Medical University’s School of Public Health, said it was very likely that the patient’s feces contained live virus, although so far only the RNA has been found. Zhang said it was possible that the coronavirus could be transmitted through faeces, after entering the intestines and multiplying and then being expelled and coming into contact with someone’s hands.

Zhang also warned that the virus could be carried away with steam by the force of the toilet flushing the feces of an infected person, and could harm people in the same room.

“Right now disinfecting toilets will probably be on the government’s agenda,” Zhang told Beijing News. “Toilets used by patients with coronary pneumonia or suspected patients need to be thoroughly disinfected and toilets must be ventilated.”

The scientist is still carrying out epidemiological investigations and research, to confirm whether the virus can be transmitted by faecel-oral, or retransmitted through aerosol formation by droplets containing the virus. So far, the outbreak has claimed 362 lives, and 17,388 people in various locations are reported to have suffered from the virus.

The post Corona Virus Identified Can Be Transmitted Through Human Stool first appeared on Postal Migrant.

The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center Macau said that under the new policy effective, as of Monday at 18:00, travelers without a health certificate could be denied entry.

According to Macau authorities, mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated places for those traveling from Hong Kong will also be maintained.

The policy applies to everyone who uses the shuttle bus over the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, also known as the “golden bus,” to ensure the safety of passengers and staff on board.

On Sunday, Macau’s health authorities said that passengers departing from Macau on an airplane and a special ferry service for Hong Kong International Airport for transit will also need to show a negative test result for the coronavirus which is done within seven days to protect others traveling with the virus. aircraft.

The certificate can be demonstrated in the health code system which was launched on May 3 to replace the health declaration system in Macau.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is the only border crossing between Hong Kong and Macau that has remained open amid the pandemic.

The “gold bus” service was temporarily suspended on April 6 but resumed operations on May 8 with only 12 services a day – six from Macau and six from Hong Kong.

Other forms of transport linking the two cities, including jet boats and helicopters, have been suspended since early February, with Hong Kong’s Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan closed.

Meanwhile, plans for “travel bubbles” for Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong are still on hold due to the recent spike in Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong.

Macau’s chief administrative secretary, Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said on Sunday that authorities should reconsider the health code scheme.

The post Macau Visitors From Hong Kong Must Bring COVID-19 Negative Certificate first appeared on Postal Migrant.

Reported by News.gov.mo, the Macau government’s official website, the regulation is in response to the ongoing development of “coronavirus pneumonia”, to protect the health and life safety of bus drivers and passengers. All passengers boarding the bus must wear a mask to board the bus, otherwise the bus driver has the right to refuse passengers to use the bus service.

The Transport Bureau urges passengers to pay attention to relevant arrangements, and at the same time to take the initiative to wear masks and pay attention to personal hygiene.

Furthermore, the Bureau said it will continue to pay attention to the current situation, and requires various public transport and related management companies to continue to improve the cleanliness of cars and stations. And disinfection, pay attention to the physical condition of drivers and employees, and do a good job of epidemic prevention.

The post All Bus Passengers in Macau Must Wear Mask first appeared on Postal Migrant.

Reported by RTHK, CHP on Friday said two new cases had been confirmed in Hong Kong, bringing the total number of confirmed cases of the potentially fatal respiratory virus to 12. The two new patients were declared in stable condition.

The first case is a 37-year-old woman, who lives at The Coronation estate in Yau Ma Tei who is the daughter of an elderly couple from Wuhan, who was confirmed to have the virus on Wednesday. The woman developed a cough on Tuesday and was sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Thursday, where she was then isolated. His respiratory sample tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

A CHP spokesman said it was immediately investigating and tracing the patient’s contact. It said the patient had previously stayed at the W Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui with his parents from January 22 to 28 and visited the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons Hotel with them.

The woman then returned home after accompanying her parents to Queen Mary Hospital on Wednesday. Initial investigations revealed that the patient had not visited a wet market or seafood market, nor had any exposure to wild animals or poultry during the incubation period.

The second case involves a 75-year-old man who lives at Hong Mei House, Cheung Hong Estate in Tsing Yi. The man developed a cough and shortness of breath on January 22 and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital two days later. His respiratory sample tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday.

The man, who is currently isolated at Princess Margaret Hospital, had previously visited Shunde in Guangdong between December 30 and January 7 and sought treatment at a clinic there. He made a day trip to Macau from January 10 to 14. Meanwhile, his wife, daughter and son who show no symptoms of illness will be transferred to a camp in MacLehose for quarantine.

The CHP said it would report the cases to the World Health Organization, National Health Commission, Guangdong Provincial Health Commission and Macau health authorities.

In addition, CHP also said it had received a confirmed case verification on Sunday by Taiwan’s health authorities and noted that the patient took China Southern Airlines flight CZ3097 from Guangzhou to Taipei last Saturday. A Hong Kong resident on the same flight was considered a close contact of the patient.

CHP said quarantine would be arranged for close contacts while medical surveillance would be arranged for other contacts.

The post Corona Virus Victim in Hong Kong Increases to 12 People first appeared on Postal Migrant.

The Macau Authority has announced that from midnight on Monday, people from Hubei and others who have visited Hubei province in the past two weeks will only be allowed into the city if they have a medical certificate to prove they are not infected with the virus. the deadly new.

But several thousand Hubei residents are believed to have entered Macau over the previous few days, and officials said these people were expected to either leave the area or go to quarantine camps already available.

Authorities said they had gone to 86 hotels on Monday and found about 150 Hubei residents who were then escorted to the border to return home.

Instead, a family of four opted to go into quarantine for two weeks, as they claimed to already have isolated relatives in a hospital in Macau.

Police said to date no visitors from Hubei have been able to enter Macau during the day, as no one has the necessary medical certificates that would allow them to get an entry permit.

Authorities said they believe there are still around 500 people from Hubei province to be found in Macau and a search for them is ongoing.

Macau has so far confirmed there are six patients infected with Wuhan pneumonia. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Authority has confirmed that 8 people have been infected with the deadly pneumonia virus in its territory.

The post Macau Deports Hundreds of Hubei Residents From Its Territory first appeared on Postal Migrant.