DOH: Number of Pinoys from Japan cruise ship with COVID-19 now 59

Ten more Filipinos who were onboard the M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to the Department of Health on Monday.

This brings to 59 the total number of Filipinos who had been infected while on the vessel, Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press conference in Malacañang.

Two of them already recovered and were discharged from the hospital.

Five more are expected to be released from medical facilities within the week, according to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Ed Meñez.

A total of 538 Filipinos were onboard the M/V Diamond Princess when it was placed under quarantine in Japan earlier this month after one of the passengers of the ship who disembarked and joined a bus tour turned out to have COVID-19.

Vergeire said over 400 have expressed intention to be included in the voluntary repatriation.

The repatriates from Japan are expected to arrive on February 25.

They will be subjected to a 14-day quarantine at the Athlete's Village in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac upon arrival in the Philippines.

Aside from the 59 Filipinos onboard the Diamond Princess infected with COVID-19 in Japan, there were other Filipinos abroad who have tested positive for the coronavirus—one in Singapore, two in United Arab Emirates, and one in Hong Kong.

The DOH on Monday clarified that there is still no confirmed case of Filipinos infected with COVID-19 in South Korea. —KG, GMA News