45 Pinoys from China amid nCoV threat to be quarantined at New Clark City

Filipinos who will be repatriated from Hubei, China due to the spread of the novel coronavirus will be quarantined at the New Clark City in Tarlac, health officials said on Thursday afternoon.

Wuhan, the epicenter of nCoV outbreak, is in Hubei province.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said 45 Filipinos in China have already signified a desire to be repatriated.

“The agreement here is that of the 45… as they are required by the Chinese Health Commission, they are required to undergo another check before they board the plane,” Dulay said.

The 45 Filipinos are tentatively scheduled to leave China on Saturday and arrive in the Philippines early Sunday morning.

“However, that is not a fixed date or time… we have to comply with the Chinese rules that are set on the ground,” Dulay said.

The Bureau of Quarantine staff will screen the repatriated Filipinos upon their arrival at the Clark International Airport before they are brought by bus to New Clark City.

Passengers displaying symptoms related to nCoV will immediately be admitted to the polyclinic hospital inside Athlete’s Village as persons under investigation.

Passengers who are asymptomatic will be transported to the designated quarantine facility, which Duque said has complete amenities in each isolation room such as refrigerators and airconditioners.

“The facilities are more complete, the ambiance is very nice, it’s well-lit, it’s open space and so the rooms are with almost complete amenities [and] individualized toilets, which is very very good,” he said.

The DOH also said the area of the quarantine facility will be cordoned off to restrict the movement of persons under investigation.

The Bureau of Quarantine staff will screen the repatriated Filipinos upon arrival.

Passengers displaying symptoms related to nCoV will immediately be admitted to hospital as persons under investigation.

Passengers who are asymptomatic will be transported the designated quarantine facility.

The Center for Health Development, for its part, will disinfect the planes used by the Filipinos repatriated from China.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will be in charge of the repatriates after they are discharged from treatment or quarantine.

New Clark City lockdown

Management of the New Clark City has announced a lockdown in the area starting Thursday, February 6 "until further notice."

"All preventive and precautionary measures are being put in place for our repatriated kababayans, as well as the entire area of New Clark City and its adjacent communities," it said. —NB, GMA News