MANILA — More than 400 Filipinos who were repatriated from a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Japan were all negative from any symptoms of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health said.
DOH Assistant Secretary Rosette Vergeire said the 441 Filipino crew members and four passengers of the Diamond Princess, who arrived in the Philippines before dawn, did not show any signs of coronavirus so far.
The repatriated Filipinos would be quarantined for 14 days at a facility at the New Clark City in Tarlac that was previously used to house athletes in last year’s Southeast Asian Games.
“Pagdating nila, lahat sila ay maayos except for one na medyo nahilo raw po pero after a while ay okay na siya… Wala namang nagkaroon ng sintomas,” Vergeire told DZMM AM radio on Wednesday.
The Diamond Princess was quarantined on Feb. 5 after a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong tested positive for the virus. Many crew were not isolated because they were needed to keep the vessel running.
“Baka iba-ibang araw sila na-expose o nakasalamuha sa mga positibong kaso so naisip po natin na baka pinakamagaling po ang mag-ulit tayo ng another 14-day quarantine para lang tayo makasigurado,” said Vergeire.
Eighty Filipinos from the cruise ship had tested positive for the virus, 70 were still admitted in hospitals in Tokyo while 10 were discharged and preparing to go back to the Philippines.
The virus has killed more than 2,600 people and infected over 77,000 others in China. In the rest of the world, there have been more than 40 deaths and 2,700 cases.
The Philippines so far confirmed three “imported” cases of the disease from Wuhan, including one death and 2 who were discharged, while 98 other suspected coronavirus patients across the country./PN