DOH scouting for quarantine facility for over 500 Pinoys arriving from Japan cruise ship

Preparations for the evacuation and return of 538 Filipinos aboard a quarantined cruise ship in Japan are underway amid the country's continuous precautionary measures against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday.

"Mayroon din tayong planong ilikas sila... Pinag-uusapan ngayon, hinahanapan sila sa kasalukuyan ng lugar kung saan sila pwedeng i-quarantine for two weeks," Duque said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

He added that the DOH is in coordination with the maritime agency who deployed most of the affected Filipinos.

Out of the total 538 Filipinos aboard the vessel, 531 are crew members and seven were guest passengers, according to Philippine Deputy Chief of Mission to Japan Robespierre Bolivar.

As of February 13, there were 11 Filipinos on board the ship who tested positive for COVID-19.

Duque said that authorities will also check if the Athletes' Village in New Clark City — currently being used as a quarantine facility for Filipinos repatriated from China — can still accommodate the affected seafarers and travelers from Japan. —Dona Magsino/KBK, GMA News