518 Pinoys on cruise ship off California coast await tests
QUARANTINED The MV Grand Princess has been held off California’s coast since Wednesday, following reports of two previous passengers who had contracted the new coronavirus. —AFP
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Friday there are 518 Filipinos among the crew members of a cruise ship that has been quarantined in California’s coast, as its passengers and crew await testing for the new coronavirus.
In a message to reporters on Friday, Foreign Assistant Secretary Eduardo Meñez said: “We confirm that there are Filipino crew members onboard the MV Grand Princess. The most recent information puts the exact number of Filipino crew at 518. We do not have confirmations about Filipino passengers yet.”
“As of the moment, there are passengers and crew of unidentified nationalities who are exhibiting symptoms and are being tested accordingly,” he added.
The ship has a total of 3,533 people on board—2,422 guests and 1,111 crew, according to the DFA.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention placed the ship on quarantine on Wednesday, following reports that two former passengers had contracted the virus.
The MV Grand Princess traveled last month from San Francisco to Mexico and back.
New passengers were on board when the infections were reported. —WITH REPORTS FROM JEROME ANING AND CHRISTIA MARIE RAMOS
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