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135 passengers land in Kalibo from Wuhan, China


Hours before the lockdown of Wuhan City in China, the epicenter of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, a plane headed for the Kalibo International Airport was able to fly out early Thursday morning.

The Royal Air Charter flight departed from Wuhan before 6 a.m. carrying 135 passengers headed for Boracay Island.

“May bumaba pa rin na galing Wuhan, so vigilant naman ang ating quarantine personnel sa airport,” Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesperson Eric Apolonia said in a 24 Oras report by Maki Pulido.

“Bago bumaba ang pasahero...  inii-scan na ng thermal scanner ng quarantine personnel.”

Apolonia said the passengers were allowed to enter the country since none of them had a fever.

There were six flights from Wuhan to Kalibo via Royal Air Charter and Pan Pacific Airline every week prior to the lockdown of the Chinese city. 

Eusebio Monserate Jr., CAAP officer in charge of the Kalibo International Airport, said it is up to the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines to decide how to deal with the 135 passengers from Wuhan.

The Department of Health earlier assured the public that there is no confirmed case of 2019-nCoV in the country yet.  — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News

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