DFA to repatriate Filipinos in Hubei due to nCoV outbreak

Around 30 to 50 Filipinos in Hubei have expressed their desire to be repatriated due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, with Filipinos in Wuhan City and the rest of Hubei province prioritized for the first batch.

The Department of Foreign Affairs plans to evacuate the first batch of voluntary repatriates by next week, subject to China's rules on disease containment, including immigration clearances.

The DFA is processing Filipinos in Hubei who wish to be repatriated to the Philippines, with a total of 300 Filipinos in the province.

Filipinos who wish to be included in the first batch are urged to contact the Philippine embassy in Beijing or the nearest Consulate General by Feb. 3, 2020.

The repatriates will undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival in the Philippines.

As of Thursday, foreign reports quoting health authorities said the number of deaths from the rapidly spreading nCoV in Hubei province hit 42.