By ANALOU DE VERA
The Department of Health assured yesterday that precautionary measures are in place at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac which will be used as a quarantine site for Filipinos from Hubei province, China who are expected to arrive in the country today.
“Ensured ‘yung kanilang quarantine area. Walang papasukin diyan. In fact, naka lockdown ‘yung facility,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III in a radio interview.
“Kailangan tugunan natin ‘yung kanilang hangarin na makauwi at responsibilidad natin bilang gobyerno na we facilitate their coming back but under strict compliance with quarantine laws,” he added.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority has assured the municipality of Capas, Tarlac that the national government will address all issues and concerns raised following the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the
Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to use New Clark City as a quarantine site.
“All preventive and precautionary measures are being put in place by the Task Force not only for our repatriated ‘kababayans,’ but to also ensure that the adjacent communities of New Clark City and all Capasenos are kept safe and protected,” the BCDA said.
Forty-five Filipinos are expected to arrive in the country from Hubei province after they signified their intention to be repatriated. They will undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine period at the Athletes’ Village in New Clark City.
Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo had earlier said that the government “will do everything to make sure that overseas Filipino workers who are coming in from China will not come in contact with the community” during the quarantine period.
“Not only DoH but all other agencies are going to make all necessary arrangements to make sure that there is no risk in the community,” said Domingo.
The Health department will provide the needed medical logistics, including hygiene kits, disinfectant solutions, transportation, and other things needed in the quarantine process.
BODY OF NCOV
VICTIM BURIED
The DoH yesterday confirmed that the remains of the 44-year-old Chinese man who tested positive for the novel coronavirus have been buried.
“Minabuti ng ating director ng San Lazaro Hospital na nakipag-ugnayan na gawin nalang burial. So, natapos na iyon kahapon ng umaga,” Duque said.
Domingo had earlier said that the remains of the 44-year-old Chinese man as well as the body of the 29-year-old Chinese man who was then being monitored for the novel coronavirus but had tested negative were disposed of properly.
“The two bodies have been disposed of properly. Wala na sa San Lazaro Hospital and of course following safety procedure,” Domingo said.
However, the Health Undersecretary did not divulge how the bodies were laid to rest, citing privacy reasons and for the dignity of the deceased.
Domingo said that crematorium operators refused to cremate the bodies as they are afraid that it might affect their business.
During a Senate hearing, the Health chief said that a dead person infected with the novel coronavirus does not have the ability to infect other individuals.
“The experts behind me are one in saying that they will no longer be infectious once dead,” Duque said.
RELIEF GOODS
Meanwhile, the on-site repatriation team of the Department of Foreign Affairs handed out relief goods to Filipinos in Wuhan who were stranded in their homes due to government restrictions limiting travel movement to contain the novel coronavirus.
Mark Anthony Geguera and Sanny Darren Bejarin of the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai, China coordinated with volunteer members of the Filipino community in the relief operations.
The DFA on-site repatriation team entered ground zero of the coronavirus outbreak on Friday to firm up the arrangements for the planned repatriation activities with Chinese authorities.
“We already have our DFA team inside Wuhan City and they are there working on the ground preparing for the repatriation of our OFWs. They’re taking a great personal risk for the sake of our ‘kababayans’ and I salute them for that,” DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay had earlier said.
The team hired a vehicle to visit neighborhoods with identified Filipino residents in travel-restricted Wuhan and handed out grocery items and other necessities. (With reports from Bettina Unite and PNA)