The Department of Health said yesterday that the government is finalizing the voluntary repatriation plans for all the asymptomatic Filipino passengers of M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan.
“The Interagency Task Force for the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases resolved that all Filipino passengers and crew of the M/V Diamond Princess who will request repatriation will be accommodated by the Philippine government in accordance with the guidelines set by the DoH,” said Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Vergeire said the arrangements will be finalized in the coming days. “It’s not going to be next week or the week after. It’s going to be soon…in the coming days.”
She reported that 41 Filipino crew members of M/V Diamond Princess tested positive for COVID-19.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is now in constant communication with the Japanese government on the planned repatriation, said Vergeire.
“Ever since last week, our government has already been coordinating with the government of Japan… as well as we sat down with the M/V Diamond Princess handler here already to negotiate our terms…paano talaga gagawin itong pag-repatriate,” she said.
The number of Filipinos who will be repatriated from M/V Diamond Princess will be final after the test and assessments are completed.
“As to how many, hindi pa natin alam kasi finafalize pa natin doon sa cruise ship and government of Japan kung ilan talaga ‘yung uuwi because of the testing, because of the assessment,” she said. “So the numbers will be really final after the test and assessments are completed,” she added.
The quarantine site for them here is still being discussed.
“There were facilities that were discussed and identified but we still cannot provide the exact facility where they will be brought because we still need to do some coordination and the process would need to be finalized,” said Vergeire.
Meanwhile, a Filipino crew member of MV Diamond Princess who was earlier found positive for COVID-19 is set to be discharged from the hospital today, the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo said yesterday.
According to the Embassy, the Filipino crew who was admitted to the hospital last Feb. 5 has been successfully treated.
NO COVID SYMPTOMS
The DoH also said yesterday that repatriates currently quarantined at the Athletes’ Village in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac showed no signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
“All of them are asymptomatic, ibig sabihin walang sintomas for the past three days except for one,” said Vergeire.
Vergeire said that a 38-year-old pregnant woman was brought to a medical facility after she experienced high blood pressure and swelling.
“So ang ginawa ng ating medical team to be sure dinala siya doon sa referral hospital natin and of course kasama niya ‘yung asawa niya who is also part of those quarantined persons,” said the Health official. “The rest are okay, asymptomatic. Hopefully matapos na ang quarantine period this coming Saturday,” she added.
After the quarantine period, the repatriates will be brought home to their provinces. Some of them will be fetched by their relatives or transported by government services.
The DoH regional offices will still monitor the health condition of the repatriates once they are home. “So that we will also know any updates or any symptoms that they might be exhibiting habang nakauwi na sila sa kanilang pamamahay,” said Vergeire. (Analou de Vera)