Repatriated seafarers arrive at Cebu port

MANILA, Philippines — The first batch of repatriated seafarers who are residents of Cebu and Bohol arrived at Pier 5 of Cebu port on Tuesday, according to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

A total of 266 of the 305 seafarers from the first batch of repatriates, who boarded the St. Michael the Archangel ship, have undergone mandatory real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) retest for SARS-CoV-2 or the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to Marina in a social media post.

The distressed seafarers were assisted by the Marina regional office in Central Visayas, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Quarantine, Department of Health, Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA), Department of the Interior and Local Government, Office of Civil Defense, Cebu Ports Authority, and Department of Tourism.

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Except from residents of Bohol, the arriving seafarers are residents of Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City.

“After the testing, all passengers were transferred through a bus, which was booked by the OWWA to be transported to various hotels for a 14-day quarantine,” said Marina.

“As of 8:00 am, the re-tests for Bohol residents are ongoing and the vessel carrying the rest of the seafarers in the first batch has already departed and is bound for Dumaguete,” it added.

JPV