MANILA – Filipinos who are set to be repatriated today from Hubei, China due to the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019 nCoV-ard) outbreak are to be quarantined at New Clark City in Tarlac province.
Department of Health (DOH) secretary Francisco Duque said procedures and protocols have been set for the return of Filipinos from Hubei, the Chinese province of Wuhan City which is the epicenter of the outbreak.
The repatriates will stay for 14 days at Building A of the Athletes’ Village in New Clark City while the medical staff will stay in another building.
“[I’d] like to take this opportunity to convey our gratitude to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority which offered the use of New Clark City as quarantine area for repatriated Filipinos,” Duque said.
The returning Filipinos will land on Clark International Airport and those with symptoms of 2019-nCoV will be brought to identified hospitals.
Those without symptoms will go straight to New Clark City.
“The agencies have been instructed to disinfect the luggage of the Filipinos and the vehicles that will be used to transport them,” Duque said.
The government initially eyed the drug rehabilitation center in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija as quarantine facility.
Meanwhile, the municipal council of Capaz, Tarlac unanimously voted to oppose the use of New Clark City as quarantine area.
Local officials said they were stunned by the Health department’s announcement.
“The DOH did not at all involve the Capas local government in its last-minute decision,” said Capas mayor Reynaldo Catacutan.
“Hindi naman sa tinatanggihan natin ang mga overseas Filipino workers. Dahil kapwa natin sila Pilipino kino-consider natin sila, pero sana dalhin sila sa lugar na mas akma at wala masyadong buhay na maapektuhan,” said Municipal Councilor Estella Manlupig.
The 45 Filipinos are tentatively scheduled to leave China on Saturday and arrive in the Philippines early Sunday morning./PN
