Hong Kong’s 370,000 Foreign Domestic Helpers to Undergo Compulsory Testing for COVID Variants
Hong Kong has announced that all foreign domestic helpers in the city will undergo compulsory COVID testing after a Filipino woman and a newborn infant in her care tested positive for two virus mutations.
The 39-year-old Philippino domestic helper had no travel history. She and the infant in her care were confirmed to be infected with a coronavirus variant carrying the N501Y and E484K mutations in April. Both mutations are found in numerous CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus variants, and are estimated to make the variants more infectious and more deadly. On April 30, the Hong Kong government said that all of Hong Kong’s 370,000 foreign domestic helpers would undergo compulsory testing by May 9.
UK Net Mortgage Borrowing Reaches Record High in ‘Red Hot’ Housing Market
UK homeowners are borrowing at record high levels to take advantage of the stamp duty holiday and low interest rates, new official figures have revealed.
According to statistics released by the Bank of England on Tuesday, net mortgage borrowing reached £11.8 billion ($16.4 billion) in March, the highest figure since records began in 1993. A general view shows the Bank of England and the City of London financial district in London, UK, on Nov. 5, 2020. (John Sibley/Reuters)
House prices have boomed across Britain during the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic despite the most significant economic contraction in a generation. The Resolution Foundation, a London-based think tank, called it “a very odd recession.”
US to Face Widespread Chlorine Shortage, Price Hikes, as Pandemic Boosts Demand
The United States is set to face a widespread chlorine shortage this summer, as demand for chemicals from pool owners across the country surges amid the ongoing CCP viruspandemic.
Americans are spending more time at home due to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, and as pool season approaches, prices of the chemical have started to creep up. In some parts of the country, chlorine tablet prices have doubled from last year.
Supplies are also running low due to a major fire incident at Bio-Lab pool and spa treatment products factory, a chemical plant in Louisiana on Aug. 27 last year, caused by Hurricane Laura.
Lockdowns May Be Canada’s Biggest Policy Failure in History, Report Says
Lockdowns have had little effect on bringing down COVID-19 deaths and could be one of Canada’s biggest policy failures in history, a professor wrote in a research paper published this month.
Douglas W. Allen, economics professor at Canada’s Simon Fraser University, reached the conclusion after examining over 80 papers on the effects of lockdowns implemented worldwide by governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy forced the closure of businesses, supply chains, various sector activities, among other activities in daily life.
“Lockdowns have had, at best, a marginal effect on the number of Covid-19 deaths,” Allen wrote in his report (pdf).