Locsin orders immediate repatriation of Filipinos from M/V Diamond Princess

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. has ordered the immediate repatriation of Filipinos aboard the M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan.

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) were previously finalizing voluntary repatriation plans for asymptomatic Filipino passengers and crew.

As of Wednesday, February 19, 2020, 40 Filipino crew members on the ship have tested positive for COVID-19 and are in hospitals in Japan.

The DFA stated there are 531 Filipino crew members and 7 passengers aboard the cruise ship, with 401 expressing their desire for repatriation.

Filipino patients who have been successfully treated and are cleared for disembarkation will be repatriated to the Philippines, while those still in hospitals will only be repatriated after receiving medical clearance.

The employer of the Filipino crew members will shoulder the cost of their repatriation flights, and the Philippine government will provide medical services for the repatriates.

Discussions are ongoing to finalize the exact quarantine facility in the Philippines for the returning Filipinos, who will undergo a fresh two-week quarantine.