Repatriates from MV Diamond Princess return home after quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — Four hundred forty-two Filipino repatriates from the quarantined cruise ship MV Diamond Princess returned to their respective homes on Wednesday after completing the 14-day mandatory quarantine in New Clark City (NCC) in Capas, Tarlac, the Philippine health department said.

“The Department of Health (DOH) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) sent off 442 of the 445 repatriates from Japan who were quarantined at New Clark City (NCC), Capas, Tarlac,” Health Undersecretary and Spokesperson Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire said during the press briefing.

Of the 442, 437 were crew members while five are passengers, who were evacuated from the cruise ship last Feb. 25.

Three out of 445 repatriates, however, did not join the send-off ceremony as two crew members tested positive for the 2019 novel coronavirus disease or COVID-19 case while one remaining repatriate was symptomatic, who is now a person under investigation for the disease.

The two infected individuals were admitted to the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBLMRH) in Pampanga while the symptomatic repatriate is still staying at the NCC for pending lab results submitted to the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City.

To date, the Philippines has recorded 16 new cases of coronavirus disease, bringing the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 49.

The fatal disease caused by the novel coronavirus was first detected in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province of China.

The International on Taxonomy of Viruses named the new coronavirus as SARS-CoV-2.

The new coronavirus causes respiratory symptoms including fever, cough and colds but it can also cause serious illness such as pneumonia especially to older adults and people who are diagnosed with other health issues.

The coronavirus, a family of viruses, shows surfaces with crown-like appearance. The viruses are named for the spikes on their surface.