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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Repatriation for Filipinos on cruise ship moved to next week - DOH

Repatriation for Filipinos on cruise ship moved to next week - DOH

Published Feb 22, 2020 12:00 am
By Analou De Vera  The repatriation of Filipinos aboard the M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship was moved next week in order to allow health authorities in Japan to complete the laboratory testing of the Filipino crew and passengers for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Saturday. 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) 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 FILE PHOTO) "The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) has unanimously resolved to tentatively schedule the repatriation of Overseas Filipinos (OFs) aboard the M/V Diamond Princess Cruise ship early next week," the DOH said in a statement. "This is to allow the Japanese health authorities to complete the laboratory testing the 400-plus Filipino crew members aboard the ship and comply with the established Japanese quarantine protocols," it added. The repatriation was originally scheduled on Sunday, February 23. The DOH said the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo is closely coordinating with the Japanese health and foreign ministry to complete the quarantine protocols to repatriate the Filipino crew members and passengers as soon as possible. " IATF-EID is adjusting the schedule out of an abundance of caution with a view to safeguarding the health and safety of our OFs onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship," the DOH said. "The Japanese government has ensured that appropriate health services are being provided to affected OFs aboard the ship, " it added. Last Friday, Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that around 460 to 480 Filipinos aboard the said cruise ship has already requested assistance to return to the Philippines. Those who will manifest symptoms of COVID-19 will not be repatriated. Vergeire said that two planes will accommodate the repatriates, arriving three to four hours apart. The flights will be manned by medical teams. Members of the medical team will be wearing hazardous materials suits for their own protection. Upon their arrival at the Haribon Hangar of the Clark Air Base in Pampanga, the repatriates will be transported to the Athletes' Village in New Clark City, where they will be monitored for 14 days for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. READ MORE: DOH: Wuhan repats ready to go home; Filipinos from cruise ship also to be quarantined at NCC
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