Philippines prepares to repatriate Pinoys in Wuhan

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is gearing up for the repatriation of Filipinos trapped in Wuhan City – epicenter of the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) that has spread globally.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Thursday night that it would push through with the repatriation of Filipinos in China, beginning with those in Wuhan and the rest of the central province of Hubei.

“Filipinos in Wuhan City and the rest of Hubei province will be afforded priority in the first batch of repatriates,” the DFA said in a statement.

There are around 300 Filipinos in Hubei, 150 of them in Wuhan City, it said. But only around 50 of them have expressed intention to leave as the number of nCoV infections there continues to rise.

“The DFA intends to repatriate the first batch of Filipinos next week, subject to China’s rules on disease containment, including immigration clearances, quarantine process, among others,” the DFA statement read.

Filipinos who wish to be included in the first batch may contact the Philippine embassy in Beijing or the nearest consulate general in their area on Feb. 3.

Upon arrival in the Philippines, the Filipino repatriates will be subjected to a 14-day mandatory quarantine in accordance with guidelines of the Department of Health (DOH), the DFA said.

Emerging from the second meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the repatriation order of the President yesterday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed that the number of repatriates are only between 40 and 50.

“This is for the account of the Philippine government. This is going to be free and will not be charged to the repatriated Filipinos,” he said.

However, Duque advised Filipinos in China and currently unwell “to delay their return to the Philippines and to seek assistance from the Philippine embassy in China for further advice.”

Speaking of those who have chosen to stay in Hubei, the DOH chief said he hopes they would complete their period of quarantine. “After that, hopefully their lives will normalize,” he said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the nCoV outbreak a global health emergency on Thursday (yesterday morning in Manila) as it has been found to spread through 18 countries, including the Philippines.

The DOH announced the other day the first confirmed case of nCoV in the Philippines – a 38-year-old female tourist who came from Wuhan and arrived in the Philippines via Hong Kong last Jan. 21.

Philippines prepares to repatriate Pinoys in Wuhan

HELEN FLORES

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is gearing up for the repatriation of Filipinos trapped in Wuhan City – epicenter of the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) that has spread globally.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Thursday night that it would push through with the repatriation of Filipinos in China, beginning with those in Wuhan and the rest of the central province of Hubei.

“Filipinos in Wuhan City and the rest of Hubei province will be afforded priority in the first batch of repatriates,” the DFA said in a statement.

There are around 300 Filipinos in Hubei, 150 of them in Wuhan City, it said. But only around 50 of them have expressed intention to leave as the number of nCoV infections there continues to rise.

“The DFA intends to repatriate the first batch of Filipinos next week, subject to China’s rules on disease containment, including immigration clearances, quarantine process, among others,” the DFA statement read.

Filipinos who wish to be included in the first batch may contact the Philippine embassy in Beijing or the nearest consulate general in their area on Feb. 3.

Upon arrival in the Philippines, the Filipino repatriates will be subjected to a 14-day mandatory quarantine in accordance with guidelines of the Department of Health (DOH), the DFA said.

Emerging from the second meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the repatriation order of the President yesterday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed that the number of repatriates are only between 40 and 50.

“This is for the account of the Philippine government. This is going to be free and will not be charged to the repatriated Filipinos,” he said.

However, Duque advised Filipinos in China and currently unwell “to delay their return to the Philippines and to seek assistance from the Philippine embassy in China for further advice.”

Speaking of those who have chosen to stay in Hubei, the DOH chief said he hopes they would complete their period of quarantine. “After that, hopefully their lives will normalize,” he said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the nCoV outbreak a global health emergency on Thursday (yesterday morning in Manila) as it has been found to spread through 18 countries, including the Philippines.

The DOH announced the other day the first confirmed case of nCoV in the Philippines – a 38-year-old female tourist who came from Wuhan and arrived in the Philippines via Hong Kong last Jan. 21. – With Sheila Crisostomo