Philippines suspends Wuhan flights over virus threat

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is suspending all flights from Wuhan City, which was placed on lockdown yesterday amid the new coronavirus that has so far killed 17 and infected more than 500 people in mainland China.

Flights from other parts of China will also be under strict monitoring, according to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

“When you look at the seriousness of the outbreak, Wuhan should be the focus of attention,” CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla told reporters.

Two airlines – Pan Pacific and Royal Air – have declared flight suspensions from the Kalibo International Airport to Wuhan.

Pan Pacific Airlines Kalibo station head Timothy Jones Cabrera said the airline is suspending flights to Wuhan starting tomorrow.

Cabrera said they were allowed by Wuhan’s airport authorities to deploy two remaining inbound flights to the Chinese city last night and on Saturday “to ferry remaining passengers in Boracay.”

But the airline clarified that the return flights would not be carrying any passengers.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) director general Jim Sydiongco said Royal Air also suspended flights to Wuhan until the coronavirus has been contained.

Pan Pacific Airlines and Royal Air Philippines offer direct flights from Wuhan City to Kalibo, Aklan. The country’s main gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, does not service direct flights to or from Wuhan.

CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said flights from Wuhan would be suspended indefinitely.

The CAAP is closely monitoring arriving passengers at the Kalibo International Airport.

The CAAP has reactivated its communicable disease preparedness procedures in 42 airports, especially in international gateways such as Davao, Kalibo, Iloilo, General Santos, Laoag, Puerto Princesa and Zamboanga.

Airport personnel were also advised to exercise extreme vigilance in handling passenger arrivals to strictly monitor those who are possibly infected with the virus.

For operations at the country’s main air gateway, Manila International Airport Authority general manager Ed Monreal said they are in full coordination with the Bureau of Quarantine.

The private operator of the Mactan Cebu International Airport said precautionary measures to control the spread and transmission of coronavirus are being implemented to ensure the wellbeing of passengers and employees.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it is monitoring reports about the novel coronavirus even though it does not operate flights to Wuhan.

“We are coordinating with the DOH and other agencies in taking precautionary measures for the safety and protection of our passengers. This includes non-obtrusive screening at specific airports,” PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.

Cebu Pacific said it is also monitoring the spread of the Wuhan virus.

The airline company has been alerted amid reports from Hong Kong media regarding four passengers aboard Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 111 (Hong Kong-Manila) who may have been exposed to a person infected with the virus.

The budget carrier said the passengers and crew aboard the flight were screened by the Bureau of Quarantine upon arrival in Manila on Wednesday afternoon.

“As a precautionary measure, we advised the passengers to seek medical attention should they exhibit flu-like symptoms such as cough, sore throat and fever. We have also disinfected the aircraft following our standard practice for all inbound international flights,” Cebu Pacific said.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has ordered a tighter watch on airports and seaports nationwide to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus in the country.

Tugade urged airport personnel to exercise vigilance at all ports of entry and directed heads of the aviation and maritime sectors to implement safety measures.

The Philippine Ports Authority ordered all port personnel to coordinate with the quarantine office and implement stricter passenger screening, especially in areas frequently visited by tourists such as Bohol and Caticlan.

Discharged

The Filipina flight attendant who reportedly put herself in quarantine after exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus has been discharged from a hospital in Kalibo, Aklan.

The 24-year-old flight attendant did not go on quarantine as earlier reported. She went to the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbukon Memorial Hospital on Tuesday night to be examined for coughing, Dr. Jessie Glen Alonsabe, head of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Western Visayas health office, clarified yesterday.

“After the consultation, she was released on Wednesday morning as there was no indication that it could have been more than just flu,” Alonsabe told The STAR. “We appreciate her being pro-active. That’s what we want – public awareness.”

Dr. Cornelio Cuachon of the Aklan provincial health office said the flight attendant underwent routine medical checkup.

“She has a travel history in Wuhan City, but was confined in the plane,” Cuachon said.

Three Chinese citizens who were quarantined at the Kalibo International airport due to suspected symptoms of novel coronavirus were cleared by health officials.

The 29-year-old Chinese man, three-year-old girl and a 65-year-old tourist did not test positive for the disease. They have been released from quarantine.

“Their swab samples and symptoms do not qualify for novel coronavirus,” Cuachon said.   – With Jennifer Rendon