Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin Jr. said that the repatriation of some 500 Filipinos on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship has been moved to February 25.
The initial plan for the repatriation was schedule on Sunday.
“It is all happening on 25 Feb. and Japan is extending so much help and care without our asking. The infected are in hospitals. Thank you Japan for your compassion and care,” Locsin said in a tweet.
“There will be two planes that will bring them to Clark air base. They will also stay in the New Clark City Athletes’ Village,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in a statement.
Duque added that they will be tapping medical teams in Luzon to attend to the needs of the Filipino seafarers.
Duque also said that the Filipino crew member who tested negative for COVID-19 will still be quarantined when he returns to the country.
Same strategy will be used when the government brought home Filipinos from Wuhan, China. Adjustments will be made because of the bigger number of people involved.
Duque added that there are now 44 Filipinos who tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
