Repatriation might be pushed back
MANILA — Hundreds of Filipinos onboard a Japanese cruise ship where scores tested positive for COVID-19 might have to wait longer before coming home to the Philippines since testing for the virus is not yet finished.
A Department of Health official on Saturday said that testing of crew members and some passengers for the coronavirus is only halfway through, which means the repatriation initially targeted on Sunday could possibly be delayed.
“We just received word from our embassy in Japan informing us of this matter... as of yesterday, ang natatapos pa lang po ay kalahati pa lang (only half have finished testing for the virus),” Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in interview with DZBB.
“Eh ang isang kondisyon natin, they have to be tested and they turn out negative bago natin sila i-uwi.(One of our conditions is that they have to be tested and they turn out negative before being repatriated to the Philippines.)
In a Friday statement, Malacañang said that a total of 497 Filipinos currently quarantined on the Diamond Princess docked in Japan are expected to be repatriated early next week.
Upon arrival at the Clark International Aiport, they will be quarantined for another two-week period at the Athlete's Village in New Clark City. Any repatriate who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 will instead be brought to the nearest hospital.
Meanwhile, those who display signs of illness before leaving the cruise will remain in Japan for treatment.
As of writing, there is no final decision on the Filipinos being quarantined on the ship.
“Hindi pa ho natin nabibigyan ng desisyon 'yan because we're trying to find out all the details before we will decide kung anong option po ang itetake ng ating government,” Vergeire said. (Nothing has been decided yet because we're trying to find out all the details before we will decide what option our government will take.)