Filipino, 9 others on cruise ship in Japan test positive for nCoV
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 05 Feb 2020 10:45:12 +0000
A Filipino was one of 10 people on board a quarantined cruise ship in Japan who was found to have been infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday.
The DFA said the unidentified Filipino, a crewmember, and nine others would be “transferred to a healthcare facility.”
The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo is closely monitoring the welfare of 538 other Filipinos on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
“The ship is currently docked off the port of Yokohama, Japan under a quarantine implemented by the Japanese government,” said DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Meñez.
The cruise ship, Meñez said, was quarantined when one of the passengers tested positive for the novel corona virus (nCoV). “Since then and after this time, 10 persons on board the cruise ship, including one Filipino, have tested positive for the virus.”
The other passengers have been asked to remain on board the ship for the required 14-day quarantine period.
“The Embassy is in constant communication with the remaining Filipinos on board and is closely coordinating with Japanese authorities to provide them all possible assistance,” Meñez said.
The DFA had urged Filipinos all over the world, especially in areas affected by the nCoV acute respiratory disease (ARD) to take the necessary personal precaution to ensure their health and safety.
Filipinos who need nCoV ARD-related assistance are urged to get in touch with the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General. BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO