All 445 repatriated Pinoys from Diamond Princess remain free of COVID-19 symptoms —Duque

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday said all 445 repatriated Filipinos from the Diamond Princess cruise ship remained asymptomatic of the coranavirus disease 2019 (COVID 2019).

“All of the overseas Filipinos were asymptomatic throughout the flight and transferred directly to the quarantine facility at the New Clark City,” he said in a press conference.

According to Duque, 440 of the group were crew members of the cruise while the five others were tourists.

On Tuesday night, the 445 repatriated Filipinos arrived in two batches at the Clark International Airport.

The Filipinos, including the 13 members of the repatriation team who assisted their flight from Japan. are now under quarantine at the Athletes’ Village in Capas, Tarlac.

In total, at least 458 Filipinos are staying in the quarantine facility.

Duque noted that only those who tested negative of COVID-19 were allowed to return to the country. He added that the repatriated Filipinos have undergone five-level screening before quarantine in Tarlac.

The group underwent screening for fever and respiratory signs and symptoms during disembarkation from the cruise ship, before boarding the plane in Haneda International Airport, during flight to the Philippines, upon landing at the Clark airport and upon arrival at quarantine facility. —LDF, GMA News