Number of COVID19-positive Pinoys on cruise ship now at 49 —DFA exec

The number of Filipinos aboard Japan's  M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship who were confirmed to be positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has risen to  49, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay announced on Saturday.

Since the Dream Princess cruise Covid-19 saga began, 49 Filipinos have tested positive for the coronavirus. All infected Filipinos were cared for in Japanese hospitals. Two of them were successfully treated and discharged. Thank you ????????!! @teddyboylocsin

— Dodo Dulay (@dododulay) February 22, 2020

Dulay however assured the Filipinos are currently receiving their treatment.

"All infected Filipinos were cared for in Japanese hospitals. Two of them were successfully treated and discharged," he said.

Almost 500 Filipinos from the coronavirus-hit cruise ship will be repatriated to the Philippines on Sunday, Malacañang has announced.

The repatriates will be transferred to the Athlete's Village in New Clark City to undergo another 14-day quarantine.

However, should a repatriate manifest symptoms of the coronavirus disease 2019 upon arrival to the country, they will be immediately brought to the nearest hospital.

A total of 538 Filipinos were aboard the Diamond Princess when China's COVID-19 spread in ship.

The cruise ship and the 3,711 passengers on board were placed under quarantine on February 3 after a former passenger tested positive for the virus. —LBG, GMA News