Fifth Filipina domestic worker cleared of COVID-19

Jinkie Alhambra

After almost a month in confinement, Jinkie Alhambra, the Filipina domestic worker who tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on March 10, has finally been discharged from the hospital.

“Thank God yes!,” she told Hong Kong News when we tried to confirm if she has been released on April 1.

Alhambra was the fifth Filipina migrant worker to have been cleared of COVID-19. The Philippine Consulate General said on April 1 hours before Alhambra was released that 19 more remained in the hospital – 11 females and 8 males.

This will most likely go down to 18, however after Alhambra’s discharge. In total, 23 Filipinos have contracted the virus since February this year, five of whom have recovered from the illness.

The domestic worker and Muay Thai athlete said she got the disease after her employer went to India and came back already feeling “under the weather” on Feb. 29.

Her employer, case no.117, was part of at least six people who tested positive for COVID-19 after they took part in a tour to India in February.

She became case no.118 on March 10 and shared her story to others to inspire and raise awareness about the disease which has infected at least 765 people in Hong Kong as of April 1.