The Department of Health (DOH) has announced around 500 Filipinos onboard the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship in Japan are set to return home on Sunday.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the repatriation of Filipinos from the virus-plagued vessel was moved two days earlier after the Japanese government declared it will close down the ship.
“I was told that there will be two planes that will bring in our compatriots, but they’re not arriving at the same time. There will be some two three hours difference between the two arrivals,” Duque said.
The health chief said the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases unanimously chose New Clark City as the quarantine facility venue.
For 14 days, repatriates will stay at the athletes’ village which is also being used by those who came from Wuhan, China, who are set to be discharged on Saturday.
The DOH, together with the DILG, has already started coordinating with the local government units (LGUs).
The DOH said they will use the same quarantine procedure, except for some adjustments because of the bigger number.
“It’s going to be the same, but with some adjustments, because of the bigger number, so there will be more transport services, two aircrafts, more transportation to bring the repatriates to the NCC facility,” Duque said.
A total of 21 hospitals with 10 medical personnel each will attend to repatriates during their 14-day quarantine period in the New Clark City.
Duque said the Filipino crewman who recovered from COVID-19 will still be quarantined when he returns to the country.
Meanwhile, the health ministry of Japan confirmed two passengers of the vessel, both in their 80s, have died from the novel coronavirus.
The forty Filipinos who have tested positive for COVID-19 are confined in hospitals in and around the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. – Report from Mark Fetalco
