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Filipinos from COVID-19 cruise ship back in Philippines, land at Clark
Filipinos from the coronavirus (COVID-19)-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan have landed at the Clark International Airport on Tuesday night, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
The first of two PAL flights carrying the MV Diamond Princess repatriates has just landed in Haribon Hangar, Clark Airbase at 10:15 pm. @teddyboylocsin #DFAinACTION#AssistancetoNationals pic.twitter.com/N0xH0xMybW
— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) February 25, 2020
The first batch of 309 repatriates left Haneda Airport at 6 p.m.
They were accompanied by two DFA officials and four Department of Health (DOH) medics.
First PAL flight carrying 309 Filipinos from Diamond Princess has just taken off from Haneda Airport. pic.twitter.com/HYCOjQK3DG
— Dodo Dulay (@dododulay) February 25, 2020
First batch of 309 Filipinos from the Diamond Princess w/ 2 @DFAPHL officers and 4 @DOHgov medics has landed @ Clark airport. This repatriation ?? was made possible thru the full support and cooperation of the Japanese gov’t and Amb. Koji Haneda. ????????, ??????????? !!
— Dodo Dulay (@dododulay) February 25, 2020
The second batch of repatriates, composed of 136 Filipinos, boarded their plane on Tuesday night and arrived at the Haribon Hangar in Clark at 12:12 a.m. on Wednesday, the DFA said.
The second batch of repatriates is now boarding the flight to Manila! ? This batch is expected to arrive sometime before midnight.@teddyboylocsin #DFAinACTION#AssistancetoNationals pic.twitter.com/3PVodTcmsH
— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) February 25, 2020
The second PAL flight carrying the MV Diamond Princess repatriates has arrived at Haribon Hangar in Clark Airbase at 12:12 am, February 26. @teddyboylocsin #DFAinACTION#AssistancetoNationals pic.twitter.com/1qf1AnT5w9
— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) February 25, 2020
All 445 repatriates, together with members of the DFA and DOH teams and the Philippine Airlines crew on both flights, were brought to New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac for their 14-day quarantine period.
According to authorities, each repatriate will have his or her own room.
Wheels up ????!! Second PAL repatriation flight from Haneda airport, with 136 Diamond Princess crew, 2 @DFAPHL officers and 5 @DOHgov medics onboard, now enroute to Clark.
— Dodo Dulay (@dododulay) February 25, 2020
The DFA thanked the Japanese government for its assistance in the repatriation.
"Domo arigatogozaimashita, Japan!" the DFA said on Twitter.
DFA succesfully brings home 445 Filipinos from MV Diamond Princess onboard two @flyPAL chartered flights from Haneda Airport.https://t.co/1mOtJhYQ6m
— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) February 25, 2020
D?mo arigat?gozaimashita, Japan! ???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/oJW9AUxYKN
A total of 538 Filipinos were on board the Diamond Princess. Of that number, seven were passengers while 531 were crew members.
The ship was quarantined in early February after a passenger tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Its passengers began disembarking on Wednesday after the 14-day quarantine period onboard.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the number of Filipinos who tested positive for the virus on the cruise ship rose to 80 on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the death toll in mainland China due to the COVID-19 has climbed to 2,663 with more than 77,000 confirmed cases. —Joahna Lei Casilao/NB/BAP/KG, GMA News
