2 Expats With COVID Arrested for Providing False Info!
Source: South China Morning Post, Manila Bulletin
In a South China Morning Post report, the 29-year-old engineer from Dubai and his 31-year-old female friend, both of whom were confirmed as infected last month, were taken into custody on Friday and are being detained in Yau Ma Tei Police Station.
The man was arrested on suspicion of giving misleading information while his friend was detained for refusing to provide particulars, it added.
“We don’t know why they did not tell us but they might forget about the gathering or they deliberately hid the information from us,” the Hong Kong Information Services Department said.
In a report from GMA News, the Indian engineer arrived in Hong Kong from Dubai on March 19 and immediately underwent quarantine.
The Indian foreigner completed his quarantine on April 8 after testing negative for the virus. He then reportedly started roaming around the city with his Filipina girlfriend.
The pair attended a family gathering at a flat in Fung Hing House in Hing Wah (II) Estate in Chai Wan on April 13.
On April 15, the Indian underwent COVID-19 testing prior to his return to Dubai. He tested positive for the N501Y COVID-19 variant on April 17.
The Filipina, who was a close contact, reported to a government facility on April 18. It was found she also tested positive for the same variant, the report added. The 30-year-old and a female acquaintance were arrested on Saturday and are believed to have sparked a cluster of at least eight infections.
On the same day, the Filipina’s brother, who was also a close contact of her Indian boyfriend, attended a birthday party with three other helpers.
On April 30, one of the three OFW visitors was confirmed to be infected with the strain. The domestic helper also infected the 10-month-old baby of his employer.
The two other helpers also tested positive for the same variant on May 5.
Two days later, the Filipina’s mother also tested positive.
Hong Kong authorities said these particular details were not mentioned by the Indian engineer and the Filipina.
Under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance, a person who knowingly gives any information to a medical practitioner that is false is an offence and is liable for conviction to a fine at level 2 or $5,000 and imprisonment for six months.