354 Pinoy seafarers repatriated from US

A total of 354 Filipino seafarers from Miami returned home on Wednesday through the Department of Foreign Affairs’ repatriation program amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement, the DFA said overseas Filipino workers, who worked aboard four Carnival cruise ships arrived in the country at 10:20 a.m. They all came from Miami, Florida and were flown via Qatar Airways flight QR 7485.

All crew members underwent thorough mandatory health inspection by the Department of Health-Bureau of Quarantine upon disembarkation.

The DFA added that the seafarers will be subjected to a 14-day facility quarantine in predetermined hotels approved by the DOH.

The DFA, through the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., DOH, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the United Philippine Lines, facilitated the repatriation of the crew members from MV Ecstasy, 104 of MV Dream, 49 of MV Glory and 125 of MV Sunshine.

On Monday, the number of Filipinos repatriated amid the COVID-19 pandemic has breached the 13,000 mark.

Latest data from the DFA showed that a total of 704 Filipinos abroad have tested positive for the virus, including 88 deaths and 216 recoveries. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News