Department of Health seeks the delay on the arrival of the Filipinos repatriated from Wuhan, China, on Saturday, citing Fort Magsaysay nCoV quarantine site is not yet 100% ready.
Nearly 50 Filipinos from the Wuhan, the 2019 nCoV’s epicenter, are expected to arrive on Saturday via Clark Airport in Pampanga.
DOH said authorities are still the water connection at the mega drug rehab in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, which will quarantine the repatriated Filipinos from Wuhan. Health Secretary Francisco Duque also said the facility still needs additional linen.
“Nakiusap kami na ma-delay ng 2 days para sigurado tayo na hanggang makakaya, 100 percent ready,” Duque said regarding the 46 to 48 Filipinos’ return, initially scheduled on Saturday.
(We ask for a delay of 2 days so we can be sure that we are 100 percent ready.)
Also read: Fort Magsaysay to quarantine first batch of repatriated Filipinos from China
Fort Magsaysay nCoV quarantine site not yet ready
Duque told DZMM the quarantine site-building at the drug rehab facility is separate from the main compound, which houses around 840 drug users under the rehabilitation program.
The health secretary inspected the facility yesterday following the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte.
As of February 6, the death toll due to the 2019 new coronavirus ARD is already 560, while the number of infected persons is 27, 300.
Yesterday, the Philippines confirmed its third case of nCoV. Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said the patient is a 60-year-old woman from Wuhan, China. She arrived in Cebu City on January 20 via Hong Kong. She then traveled to a resort in Bohol.
DOH also announced yesterday the first Filipino diagnosed with the deadly virus was a crew member in c cruise ship docked in Japan.