MANILA – A Filipino onboard a cruise ship in Japan has tested positive for the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, the DFA said that the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo relayed the information that the Filipino was among the 10 individuals onboard the ship.
The DFA added that the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo is closely monitoring the welfare of other Filipinos on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which is currently docked off the port of Yokohama, Japan.
“(Ten) persons on board the cruise ship, including one Filipino, have tested positive for the virus and will be transferred to a healthcare facility,” the DFA said.
“The other passengers have been asked to remain on board the ship for the required 14-day quarantine period,” it added.
Aside from the Filipino, others who tested positive for the virus include two Australian guests, three Japanese guests, three guests from Hong Kong, one guest from the United States.
“The Embassy is in constant communication with the remaining Filipinos onboard and is closely coordinating with Japanese authorities to provide them all possible assistance,” it added.
In the Philippines, there were three confirmed cases of 2019 nCoV ARD, all of them Chinese national from Wuhan, China. One of them died earlier this month at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila./PN
