8 more Pinoys on board cruise ship test positive for COVID-19
Published Feb 18, 2020 12:00 am
By Noreen Jazul, Roy Mabasa, and AFP
The number of Filipinos infected with 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the cruise ship M/V Diamond Princess has risen to 35, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.
A passenger wearing a mask stands on the deck of the cruise ship Diamond Princess, as the vessel's passengers continue to be tested for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan February 13, 2020. (REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview with CNN Philippines, DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said eight more Filipinos tested positive for COVID-19.
"As of today, we can confirm that eight more Filipinos have been infected and have been taken by the Japanese health officials to the quarantine site," Dulay said.
"That brings the total as of today to 35," he added.
Dulay said most of the infected Filipinos are "asymptomatic" and "healthy."
The foreign affairs official also assured that the infected Filipinos are being well-taken care of by the Japanese health authorities and the vessel owners.
Dulay said the earliest time the Filipino crew members can disembark the cruise ship, given that they test negative for the disease, will be March 5.
Dulay explained that the crew has to undergo a "separate quarantine."
"That's another 14 days for the crew. They will have to have three tests. The three tests will run through a 14-day period," he said.
The DFA said there are 531 Filipino crew members and 7 passengers aboard the virus-hit cruise ship. A total of 401 of them have expressed desire to be repatriated, according to Dulay.
The Japanese government is scheduled to announce Wednesday the disembarkation procedures for the end of the ship’s quarantine period.
In view of this development, the foreign affairs office said the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo is coordinating with all relevant Philippine and Japanese government agencies and is meeting with senior management representatives of Princess Cruises to ensure an “orderly and safe repatriation” of Filipinos once they clear the Japanese quarantine requirements.
Antiviral drug
Meanwhile, the Global Times reported that Fapilavir, the first domestically developed drug with potential effect to treat COVID-19 has been approved for marketing.
According to multiple reports, Fapilavir is one of three medicines that have shown good effect during clinical trials.
Read more: First antiviral drug gets green light to fight COVID-19
This developed as Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan died Tuesday morning after "all-out rescue efforts failed," state broadcaster CCTV reported.
He is the first known hospital director to have died from the coronavirus.
Read more: Hospital director at China virus epicenter dies
At least six other medical workers have died from the virus, while 1,716 have been infected, according to official figures.
The virus which has infected more than 72,000 persons has killed 1,900 in China.
The hospital director's death has echoes of the death of Wuhan ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, who had been punished by authorities for sounding the alarm about the virus in late December.
Read more: Doctor who sounded the alarm on nCoV dies after contracting virus from patient
Li's death prompted a national outpouring of grief as well as anger against the authorities, who were accused of mishandling the crisis.
Meanwhile, China will waive trade-war tariffs on imports of selected US medical equipment starting March 2 as the country battles to contain the new coronavirus epidemic.
Read more: China to waive tariffs on US medical imports amid virus outbreak
Products that will qualify for the exemptions include patient monitors, blood transfusion equipment and instruments to measure blood pressure, according to a list released by the Tariff Commission of the State Council.
The commission said the move was "to better meet the growing needs of Chinese consumers" and that it would accept applications from firms in China.
The tariff exemptions will apply for a designated period, supporting firms that want to import from the US based on "business considerations," said authorities.
‘Blanket measures’ not helping
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday warned against "blanket measures" over the novel coronavirus outbreak, pointing out the epidemic outside of China was only affecting a "tiny" proportion of the population.
WHO said that -- with a mortality rate of around 2 percent -- COVID-19 is "less deadly" than other coronaviruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
WHO officials likewise rejected the suggestion that all cruises should be halted to avoid risking a new nest of infection like the one on the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess off Japan.
"Measures should be taken proportional to the situation. Blanket measures may not help," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva.
The outbreak has battered manufacturing and tourism across the region and led to multiple travel restrictions including for flights and cruises.
"If we are going to disrupt every cruise ship in the world on the off chance that there might be some potential contact with some potential pathogen then where do we stop?" said Michael Ryan, head of WHO's health emergencies program.
Ryan said that even at the epicenter of the crisis in the city of Wuhan in central Hubei Province, the "attack rate" -- a measure of the speed of spread of the virus -- was four per 100,000.
"This is a very serious outbreak and it has the potential to grow, but we need to balance that in terms of the number of people infected. Outside Hubei this epidemic is affecting a very, very tiny, tiny proportion of people," he said.
Tedros also referred to an apparent decline in new cases of the disease in recent days but said that the trend "must be interpreted very cautiously."
"Trends can change as new populations are affected. It is too early to tell if this reported decline will continue. Every scenario is still on the table," he said.
Tedros said that more than 80 percent of patients infected with the virus have mild disease and recover, while 14 percent have severe diseases such as pneumonia.
Around five percent of cases are considered critical with possible multi-organ failure, septic shock and respiratory failure and, in some cases, death," he added.
Tedros said there were "relatively few cases" among children and more research was needed to understand why.
The WHO also warned against a global over-reaction to the new coronavirus epidemic following panic-buying, event cancellations and concerns about cruise ship travel.
Read more: WHO warns against virus over-reaction as death toll hits 1,868
The outbreak is threatening to put a dent in the global economy, with China paralyzed by vast quarantine measures and major firms such as iPhone maker Apple and mining giant BHP warning it could damage bottom lines.
Trade fairs, sports competitions and cultural events have been disrupted, while several countries have banned travelers from China and major airlines have suspended flights.
A passenger wearing a mask stands on the deck of the cruise ship Diamond Princess, as the vessel's passengers continue to be tested for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan February 13, 2020. (REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview with CNN Philippines, DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said eight more Filipinos tested positive for COVID-19.
"As of today, we can confirm that eight more Filipinos have been infected and have been taken by the Japanese health officials to the quarantine site," Dulay said.
"That brings the total as of today to 35," he added.
Dulay said most of the infected Filipinos are "asymptomatic" and "healthy."
The foreign affairs official also assured that the infected Filipinos are being well-taken care of by the Japanese health authorities and the vessel owners.
Dulay said the earliest time the Filipino crew members can disembark the cruise ship, given that they test negative for the disease, will be March 5.
Dulay explained that the crew has to undergo a "separate quarantine."
"That's another 14 days for the crew. They will have to have three tests. The three tests will run through a 14-day period," he said.
The DFA said there are 531 Filipino crew members and 7 passengers aboard the virus-hit cruise ship. A total of 401 of them have expressed desire to be repatriated, according to Dulay.
The Japanese government is scheduled to announce Wednesday the disembarkation procedures for the end of the ship’s quarantine period.
In view of this development, the foreign affairs office said the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo is coordinating with all relevant Philippine and Japanese government agencies and is meeting with senior management representatives of Princess Cruises to ensure an “orderly and safe repatriation” of Filipinos once they clear the Japanese quarantine requirements.
Antiviral drug
Meanwhile, the Global Times reported that Fapilavir, the first domestically developed drug with potential effect to treat COVID-19 has been approved for marketing.
According to multiple reports, Fapilavir is one of three medicines that have shown good effect during clinical trials.
Read more: First antiviral drug gets green light to fight COVID-19
This developed as Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan died Tuesday morning after "all-out rescue efforts failed," state broadcaster CCTV reported.
He is the first known hospital director to have died from the coronavirus.
Read more: Hospital director at China virus epicenter dies
At least six other medical workers have died from the virus, while 1,716 have been infected, according to official figures.
The virus which has infected more than 72,000 persons has killed 1,900 in China.
The hospital director's death has echoes of the death of Wuhan ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, who had been punished by authorities for sounding the alarm about the virus in late December.
Read more: Doctor who sounded the alarm on nCoV dies after contracting virus from patient
Li's death prompted a national outpouring of grief as well as anger against the authorities, who were accused of mishandling the crisis.
Meanwhile, China will waive trade-war tariffs on imports of selected US medical equipment starting March 2 as the country battles to contain the new coronavirus epidemic.
Read more: China to waive tariffs on US medical imports amid virus outbreak
Products that will qualify for the exemptions include patient monitors, blood transfusion equipment and instruments to measure blood pressure, according to a list released by the Tariff Commission of the State Council.
The commission said the move was "to better meet the growing needs of Chinese consumers" and that it would accept applications from firms in China.
The tariff exemptions will apply for a designated period, supporting firms that want to import from the US based on "business considerations," said authorities.
‘Blanket measures’ not helping
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday warned against "blanket measures" over the novel coronavirus outbreak, pointing out the epidemic outside of China was only affecting a "tiny" proportion of the population.
WHO said that -- with a mortality rate of around 2 percent -- COVID-19 is "less deadly" than other coronaviruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
WHO officials likewise rejected the suggestion that all cruises should be halted to avoid risking a new nest of infection like the one on the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess off Japan.
"Measures should be taken proportional to the situation. Blanket measures may not help," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva.
The outbreak has battered manufacturing and tourism across the region and led to multiple travel restrictions including for flights and cruises.
"If we are going to disrupt every cruise ship in the world on the off chance that there might be some potential contact with some potential pathogen then where do we stop?" said Michael Ryan, head of WHO's health emergencies program.
Ryan said that even at the epicenter of the crisis in the city of Wuhan in central Hubei Province, the "attack rate" -- a measure of the speed of spread of the virus -- was four per 100,000.
"This is a very serious outbreak and it has the potential to grow, but we need to balance that in terms of the number of people infected. Outside Hubei this epidemic is affecting a very, very tiny, tiny proportion of people," he said.
Tedros also referred to an apparent decline in new cases of the disease in recent days but said that the trend "must be interpreted very cautiously."
"Trends can change as new populations are affected. It is too early to tell if this reported decline will continue. Every scenario is still on the table," he said.
Tedros said that more than 80 percent of patients infected with the virus have mild disease and recover, while 14 percent have severe diseases such as pneumonia.
Around five percent of cases are considered critical with possible multi-organ failure, septic shock and respiratory failure and, in some cases, death," he added.
Tedros said there were "relatively few cases" among children and more research was needed to understand why.
The WHO also warned against a global over-reaction to the new coronavirus epidemic following panic-buying, event cancellations and concerns about cruise ship travel.
Read more: WHO warns against virus over-reaction as death toll hits 1,868
The outbreak is threatening to put a dent in the global economy, with China paralyzed by vast quarantine measures and major firms such as iPhone maker Apple and mining giant BHP warning it could damage bottom lines.
Trade fairs, sports competitions and cultural events have been disrupted, while several countries have banned travelers from China and major airlines have suspended flights.