NCoV-afflicted Pinoy on cruise ship in stable condition–DOLE

LABOR officials on Thursday said the Filipino seafarer infected by the 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in a cruise ship in Japan is now in stable condition.

In an ambush interview, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) administrator Bernard P. Olalia said the manning agency of the Filipino waiter who was afflicted by the disease met with Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III.

“They explained they are already taking care of the OFW (overseas Filipino worker) as we speak,” Olalia said.

He said the manning agency submitted the necessary report, stating that the concerned OFWs is now in stable condition as of Thursday.

Pending repatriation

BELLO said they will wait for the OFW to make a full recovery from the 2019-nCoV before he is repatriated.

“He will be given all the assistance [upon his arrival],” Bello said.

The Filipino seafarer is among the 10 people on board the cruise ship, Diamond Princess, who were afflicted by the 2019-nCoV.

The cruise ship docked off the port of Yokahama earlier this week before it was quarantined by the Japanese government after some of its passengers tested positive for the 2019-nCoV.

Aside from the infected Filipino, there are over 500 other Filipinos on board Diamond Princess.

Unconfirmed strain

ASIDE from the Filipino seafarer, Olalia said they have yet to receive reports of other OFWs abroad who were infected by the 2019-nCoV.

Bello, however, reported that a 58-year old OFW from General Santos died in Dubai from an undetermined strain of coronavirus on Sunday.

“I met the daughter a while ago. They are going there [to get the remains in Dubai]. Since it [involves] coronavirus, the body will be cremated,” Bello said.

Bello said he was unable to confirm what strain of coronavirus afflicted the Dubai-based OFW.

There are currently at least six strains of coronavirus, including the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (SARS-CoV).

Samuel P. Medenilla