MANILA – The Philippine government is considering developing some facilities in Visayas and Mindanao as potential quarantine sites for the next batches of Filipino repatriates from countries hit by the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said
the plan was pitched, as the government readies itself for the possible
“worst-case scenario,” considering that cases of COVID-19 continue to soar
worldwide.
“So we’ve identified several potential sites for
quarantine sa Visayas and Mindanao. Again, these are all just in
preparation for the worst-case scenario. It’s better prepared and that we’re
prepared for any eventuality,” he said in an interview with CNN Philippines.
All Filipinos who returned home from COVID-19 hit countries have been
quarantined at the New Clark City’s Athlete Village in Capas, Tarlac.
Over 400 Filipinos aboard M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan
are currently undergoing the prescribed 14-day quarantine period. Three of them
were admitted to a public hospital in Pampanga after exhibiting symptoms of
Covid-19.
Nose and throat swabs from the three, who have coughs and colds, have already
been sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for testing.
Nograles said the government also sought to tap the rehabilitation center in
Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija as a quarantine site for overseas Filipinos who
wish to come home amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
“We’re also looking at Fort Magsaysay because that was the initial quarantine
facility that we’re looking at before going to Athletes Village. So, if in case
we need to repatriate more of our countrymen from other countries including
Macau, Fort Magsaysay is something that we’re looking,” he said.
At present, more than 3,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported
outside China.
The Philippines has confirmed three cases of Covid-19, involving three Chinese
nationals from the central city of Wuhan, China where the virus originates.
There is no existing case of new coronavirus in the Philippines, since one of
the three Covid-19 patients died, while the remaining two already recovered
from the disease. (With a report from PNA/PN)
