Situation of COVID-positive OFWs in Hong Kong now better, says group

The situation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong who contracted COVID-19 are now better compared to the past days, according to Filipino Migrant Workers' Union (FMWU) on Tuesday.

FMWU vice chairperson Eman Villanueva made the remark a few days after Philippine Consul General Raly Tejada bared reports of three to 10 Filipinos in the territory forced by their employers to sleep in public areas such as parks after testing positive for COVID-19.

Several OFWs in Hong Kong who got infected by the virus were also among those who were forced to wait outside hospitals for treatment due to facilities being at full capacity.

“Marami naman sa kanila ngayon ay nailipat na sa mga temporary shelters at hindi na kagaya nung mga naunang araw na napabayaan sila na natutulog sila sa labas ng ospital o kaya ay mga nasa parke,” Villanueva said in an interview on Unang Balita.

(Many of them have now been transferred to temporary shelters unlike in the previous days when they were left to sleep outside hospitals or in parks.)

“‘Yung situation ngayon kung baga medyo mas okay na kumpara nung mga nakaraang araw [the situation now is probably a bit better compared to the previous days],” he added.

Villanueva said based on their estimates, over 30 OFWs in Hong Kong experienced such a plight, with the territory now on its fifth COVID-19 wave due to the more transmissible Omicron variant.

According to authorities, Hong Kong hospitals are 90% full and could not admit patients right away.

The FMWU has then helped the affected OFWs by providing them with financial allowance for meals and RT-PCR tests.

“Ayaw na rin nila umalis ng airport dahil kumbaga anytime, kung lumabas ang kanilang RT-PCR test, magte-take na sila ng flight pauwi sa Pilipinas. Last night, nakauwi na halos lahat ‘yun,” Villanueva said.

(They also don't want to leave the airport because anytime, if their RT-PCR test comes out, they will take a flight home to the Philippines. Last night, almost everyone already went home.)

The Philippine government has lifted the quarantine policy, whether facility-based or home, for fully vaccinated returning overseas Filipinos, starting February 1. —KBK, GMA News