The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said it will airlift the first batch of Filipinos from coronavirus-hit Wuhan City and the rest of Hubei province starting next week.
Around 50 out of the estimated 300 Filipinos in the two areas, according to Philippine officials, have expressed their intention to leave as the number of novel coronavirus infections there continues to rise.
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“The Department of Foreign Affairs stands ready to repatriate Filipinos in China amid health concerns brought about by 2019 novel-coronavirus (2019 n-CoV) outbreak,” a DFA advisory said.
The first batch of Filipino evacuees will be subject to China’s rules on disease containment, including immigration clearances and quarantine process, the DFA said.
Special flights from Hubei Province to the Philippines will be available to those who wish to leave, the DFA said in an earlier statement.
“Filipinos in Wuhan City and the rest of Hubei province will be afforded priority in the first batch of repatriates. Filipinos who wish to be included in the first batch should contact the Philippine Embassy in Beijing or the nearest Consulate General in their area by February 3, 2020, Monday,” the DFA said.
Upon arrival in the Philippines, the repatriates will be subjected to 14 days of mandatory quarantine in accordance to the guidelines of the Department of Health.
Those who wish to stay in China should heed advisories from local health authorities, and cooperate with government efforts to prevent the spread of the virus, which was first detected in December.
Filipinos in the affected areas needing medical assistance and treatment were advised go to the nearest medical facility and seek proper medical care, including treatment and quarantine.
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