THE Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, February 19, said the government is ready to repatriate all asymptomatic and coronavirus-free Filipino passengers and crew of cruise ship MV Diamond Princess.
The 14-day quarantine period for the passengers and crew of the cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan ended Wednesday.
As of Tuesday, a total of 542 people on board the ship, including 35 Filipinos, have been found positive for the novel coronavirus, a new strain that causes Covid-19.
In a press briefing in Manila Wednesday, DOH Assistant Secretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said all those who will request repatriation will be accommodated by the Philippine government.
Talks with the Japanese government for the repatriation of more than 500 Filipinos on board the ship started last week, she said.
She stressed that the process is purely voluntary and only those who are asymptomatic and have tested negative for coronavirus prior to boarding the chartered flight will be repatriated.
“We want to repatriate our kababayans as soon as possible. Inaayos na (ang clearances). We are coordinating (with the Japanese government) and hopefully soon, mauumpisahan na natin ang repatriation,” Vergeire said.
Repatriates and those who will accompany them will have to undergo another quarantine period, just like the repatriates from Wuhan, China and the team who accompanied them who are still under quarantine at the Athletes’ Village in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
Vergeire said that although the repatriation from Wuhan was successful, the DOH is working on several improvements to ensure the seamless repatriation of Filipinos the cruise ship.
Whether the repatriates from Japan will also be brought to New Clark City has not been finalized, she added.
Vergeire said the DOH is bracing for the possibility of local transmission.
“Our priority is to equip our hospitals and health facilities in dealing with such eventuality,” she said.
Meanwhile, she reported on the resolution passed by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, which amended the exemptions to the travel ban related to the coronavirus outbreak.
Aside from Filipinos and holders of permanent resident visas in China, Macau, and Hong Kong, foreign spouses of Filipinos and their children as well as holders of diplomatic visas will also be now allowed entry into the Philippines subject to the required 14-day quarantine.
The task force also agreed to authorize travel to Hong Kong and Macau for permanent residents of the respective Special Administrative Regions, Filipinos leaving abroad for study, and overseas Filipino workers, provided that the travelers sign a declaration signifying their knowledge and understanding of the risks involved. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)