Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 4) — A Filipino crew member of a coronavirus-hit cruise ship docked in San Francisco, California has died from COVID-19.
It is the first reported death among Filipino seafarers due to the coronavirus disease. Earlier, 12 other Filipino crew members of MV Grand Princess tested positive for COVID-19. They are staying in the US for treatment.
More than 400 Filipino crew members and passengers had returned to the country in March. They were transported to New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac for the mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco confirmed on Saturday that one of the Filipino seafarers onboard the MV Grand Princess cruise ship passed away on Wednesday.
Some 78 of their compatriots volunteered to remain aboard the cruise ship as part of its essential manning.
Bensurto stressed that the government will continue to work towards ensuring the safety of all the remaining Filipinos at the cruise ship and for their eventual return to the Philippines.
“We salute him for his dedication to his job and for the sacrifices that he had made for his family,” Consul General Henry Bensurto, Jr. said in a statement.
All in all, 466 Filipinos overseas have contracted COVID-19. Twenty-one of them have died while 129 have recovered. Among those who recovered were 80 Filipinos from the Diamond Princess, another coronavirus-hit cruise ship that was docked in Japan.
