CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Officials of the Department of Health Region (DOH)-Central Luzon and Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) declined to comment on the veracity of reports about the alleged transfer of Filipino repatriates who were initially quarantined at the New Clark City (NCC) in Capas, Tarlac.
This is despite several local and national news outfits reported on Thursday evening, February 27, that three repatriates from M/V Diamond Princess started showing symptoms of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) while at the quarantine center.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said the patients under investigation (PUIs) allegedly experienced sore throat and dry cough, both symptoms of Covid-19, and were sent to JBLMGH.
In a phone interview, JBLMGH medical center chief II Monserrat Chichioco did not confirm nor deny the reports, saying she is not in authority to disclose such information.
She stressed that DOH officials are the authorized personnel to release updates and answer queries regarding the state of the repatriated Filipinos.
DOH-Central Luzon Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit Head Jessie Fantone, in a separate interview, also declined to comment on the issue as of Friday noon.
He told SunStar Pampanga that the health department will soon hold a press conference to clarify all concerns.
The three PUIs are part of the total 445 Filipinos who were repatriated from the novel coronavirus disease-hit Japanese cruise ship who arrived back in the country on Wednesday, February 26.