444 repatriates from cruise ship back in PH for quarantine

CAPAS, TARLAC—More than 400 crew members and passengers of the virus-stricken cruise ship MV Grand Princess in the United States arrived at Athletes’ Village in New Clark City (NCC) here on Monday morning for the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

The repatriates, who belong to the third batch of Filipinos to be quarantined in NCC, landed at Clark Air Base Haribon Hangar at 2:15 a.m. before heading to the the quarantine zone at 5:49 a.m.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, they are composed of 438 crew members and six passengers of the cruise ship that has been stranded in Oakland, California. They arrived via a chartered flight and were immediately fetched by chartered buses to NCC.

Chinese passengers

But Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan said 11 Chinese from the same cruise ship arrived with the repatriates.

The Chinese were transferred to a holding area in Clark Freeport after Catacutan objected to their quarantine in NCC.

The mayor said the Chinese were escorted by the police’s Highway Patrol Group to Ninoy Aquino International Airport before they were sent back to China.

The Department of Health (DOH) said that the 444 repatriates underwent health screening upon their disembarkation from the cruise ship and did not exhibit any signs and symptoms of COVID-19 prior to their departure from the United States.

The DOH said 78 crew members volunteered to be left on the cruise ship to be part of its essential staff. Another 13 are being treated at health facilities in the United States after they tested positive for COVID-19.

“In the meantime, we will be observing strict quarantine and containment procedures for our kababayans. The DOH will continuously monitor the condition of our repatriates and ensure that they are given appropriate health services, until they complete the required quarantine procedure,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

Tarlac Gov. Susan Yap said additional rooms were being constructed at Tarlac Provincial Hospital in case a COVID-19 infection was recorded in the province. “Tarlac has made all preparations and is doing all we can. Our concern is the [monitoring of] returning residents from [Metro] Manila, who are under the radar. At least with NCC, all are monitored, unlike what is happening in [Metro] Manila where tracking of local transmission is very difficult,” Yap told reporters here. She added: “Continue to pray that we will not need to use these. Rest assured we are doing and preparing for everything.” INQ