Palace to take cue from DFA, DOH on return of Pinoys in Wuhan

Malacañang on Tuesday said that it would wait for the recommendation of the health and foreign affairs departments on the possible repatriation of Filipinos in coronavirus-hit Wuhan City in China.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the repatriation of Filipinos from Wuhan might face challenges since the province, where the novel coronavirus was first detected last December, was under a lockdown.

There are around 150 Fiipinos in Wuhan, according to government data.

“Even if we want to repatriate them if there is a restriction on travel there, what can we do?” Panelo said at a news conference.

“We must consider the health issue on the spread. Ano bang mas makakabuti, they’ll stay there for awhile until the crisis is over or we’ll get them and bring them here and open the possibility of spreading it here?”

Panelo said the government would also look into the possibility of evacuating Filipinos from other countries affected by the novel coronavirus.

“Pag-aaralan lahat ‘yan kasi nga bringing them here might also open to spreading the disease unnecessarily. Pag-aaralan lahat ‘yan, kung ano ‘yung makakabuti,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) temporarily stopped issuing tourist visas on arrival to Chinese nationals in a bid to curb their arrival and minimize the chance of virus transmission.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente however clarified that there is no order barring Chinese nationals from entering the country.

According to the World Health Organization, the new strain of coronavirus has already reached Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, US, Canada, and France.

Death toll has reached over 100 and more than 4,000 have already been infected, the Chinese government said on Tuesday. The Philippines remained free of the novel coronavirus. —NB, GMA News