By Roy Mabasa
The German government has dispatched a special flight to Manila to repatriate more than 300 of its citizens in anticipation of the 72-hour window given by Philippine authorities for all foreigners to leave the country amid the Luzon-wide quarantine over the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
This was confirmed by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Manila in an advisory posted on its official website.
“The German Embassy confirms that special flight LH (Lufthansa) 343 has been cleared with Philippine authorities to depart from Manila NAIA Terminal 1 to Frankfurt, Germany on 19 March 2020 2330H,” it said.
Only German nationals who came here as tourists or visitors and their accompanying family members who wish to leave the Philippines will be allowed to board the special flight, according to the Embassy.
In the advisory, the German Embassy has requested Philippine authorities to grant German nationals access to NAIA Terminal 1 where the air tickets will be made available.
On Tuesday, the Philippine government announced that all foreigners seeking to leave the Philippines are given a 72-hour window following the implementation of an enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon.
READ MORE: Entire Luzon under quarantine