MANILA, Philippines — The government task force enforcing preventive measures for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has turned down the request of the local government unit (LGU) in Capas, Tarlac to have some of the over 400 Filipinos from Japan be quarantined in another facility other than the New Clark City.
The Filipinos, now quarantined at the Diamond Princess cruise ship which is docked at the Yokohama Port, are set to return home on Tuesday, February 25.
According to Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) for public health services, the Capas LGU has recommended that a portion of the batch of the Filipinos to be repatriated be housed in another facility aside from the New Clark City where they are scheduled for a 14-day quarantine.
The suggestion, however, was turned down by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, citing public health risks, according to Vergeire.
“Sa pag-aaral at pagdedesisyon ng ating inter-agency task force, hindi po natin napagbigyan ‘yan (After studying about it, the inter-agency task force did not grant that request) because of public health reasons. Ayaw po natin na mas tumaas ‘yung (We don’t want that the) risk of exposure of other individuals because we are going to distribute them in different areas in the country,” she said in a press briefing on Monday.
Vergeire explained that even the process of repatriation itself from Japan back to the country would be very “tedious.” She added, though, that the suggestion from the Capas LGU might be considered the next time the government would have to repatriate Filipinos from other counties hit by the coronavirus disease.
“But for now, it is not rational and it is for public health reasons, that’s why the IATF has decided na isang facility lang (that only one facility be used) for everybody,” she said.
Protocols in place
Nevertheless, Vergeire assured that protocols would be followed by authorities for the scheduled repatriation.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier confirmed 59 of the 538 Filipino crew members and passengers of the cruise ship have contracted COVID-19.
But the DOH has declined to provide the exact number on how many Filipinos would be repatriated since further tests would still be conducted before they could board the airplanes that would carry them home, according to Vergeire.
Under the repatriation plan, the DOH will screen the Filipinos aboard the ship and will only allow repatriation for those negative for COVID-19.
“OFs (Overseas Filipinos) negative for the coronavirus will be checked for signs and symptoms of respiratory illness, and only asymptomatic individuals will be allowed to disembark from the ship, take the bus to the airport, and board the aircraft back to the Philippines,” she said.
Two aircraft will be used in the flights. While aboard the aircraft from Japan to Clark International Airport, regular monitoring will be done and individuals who will manifest signs of respiratory illness will be separated and isolated in one area of the plane, according to the health official.
She said that upon landing and disembarkation, another screening will be conducted by authorities. Those who will manifest signs of respiratory illness during the flight will immediately be brought to a hospital for isolation while those asymptomatic will be transferred to the quarantine facility at the New Clark City.
During the 14-day quarantine period, 20 medical teams of the DOH will manage the facility and provide health services to the repatriates. Patients will be checked twice a day and be provided with food and basic provisions.
Meanwhile, Vergeire said the Philippine government is purchasing 19,000 test kits for COVID-19 in preparation for the arrival of Filipinos from Japan.
Currently, the Athletes’ Village at the New Clark City also serves as the quarantine facility for 32 Filipinos from Wuhan in China — the ground zero of the virus outbreak.
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