Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 29) — The government is awaiting the test results of two Filipinos who have shown symptoms linked to coronavirus infection days after being evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.
Seven other Filipino evacuees quarantined at the New Clark City in Tarlac have tested negative for the virus, Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Saturday.
The tests were conducted after they exhibited flu-like symptoms – a red flag for possible coronavirus infection.
All in all, 458 Filipinos, mostly crew members, were brought home from the Diamond Princess last Tuesday. They were transported to the New Clark City Athletes Village for a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
The repatriation did not include 70 Filipinos who have fallen ill to the coronavirus disease officially known as COVID-19.
Another 10 have recovered from the disease, eight of them have returned to the Philippines and placed under strict monitoring, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told a media briefing on Friday.
The new coronavirus has killed more than 2,900 people worldwide, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province December 2019.
In the Philippines, three Chinese nationals from Wuhan have been infected with the virus – one of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country.
Vergeire told CNN Philippines that all nine patients are under strict monitoring in a Pampanga hospital and “are all in stable condition.”
The World Health Organization has raised the highest alert level for the coronavirus outbreak, warning that it can go “in any direction.”
Vergeire said the alert is meant to “emphasize that countries have to step up with their response.” She said the Philippine government is prepared to contain the coronavirus.
