264 Pinoy crew members from US repatriated amid COVID-19 threat —DFA

A total of 264 repatriated Filipino crew of cruise ships Carnival Freedom and Carnival Valor arrived Monday amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The DFA said the repatriated Pinoy crew arrived in the country at 5:09 a.m..

“This was the last of the incoming chartered flights repatriating OFWs while the airport is closed for a week,” it added.

It further said the repatriation of this batch of seafarers was made possible with cooperation of the management of Carnival Cruises and assistance of the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C..

Officials of the DFA as well as the local manning agencies of the ships, United Philippine Lines Inc. and TDG Crew Management Inc. met the repatriated Pinoys.

Representatives of the Department of Health, Bureau of Quarantine, Department of Transportation, Philippine Coast Guard, and Manila International Airport Authority also welcomed the repatriates.

“All 264 Filipinos underwent the appropriate airport medical protocols and will undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine as required by DOH-BOQ,” the DFA said.—AOL, GMA News