After being cleared to return home, 444 Filipinos of the coronavirus — hit MV Grand Princess held off in Oakland, California will finally arrive in the Philippines on Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Sunday.
The Filipinos – 438 crew members and six passengers – will land at the Haribon Hangar in Clark Airbase, Pampanga.
“The MV Grand Princess repatriates boarded the plane back to the Philippines, which departed San Francisco around 9pm on March 14 (Pacific Time). All repatriates were all screened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services prior to boarding,” a DFA statement said.
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Upon arrival, the group will board chartered buses and shall be subjected to 14-day quarantine period at the Athletes’ Village in New Clark City, Pampanga.
Earlier, 13 Filipinos from the cruise ship who were declared COVID-19 positive were put in health facilities in the US.
“All 444 were screened by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services and did not display any COVID symptoms,” DFA Assistant Secretary Ed Meñez said.
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Meanwhile, the remaining 91 Filipino crew members of the cruise ship volunteered to remain onboard to maintain the vessel.
Operated by Princess Cruises, the Grand Princess was held off in Oakland after some passengers tested positive of coronavirus, with a 71-year-old man dying and becoming the first fatality in California.
