MANILA, Philippines — The number of Filipinos aboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess who tested positive for the coronavirus disease has climbed to 27.
The latest figure includes the 16 new cases confirmed Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.
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“The Embassy is in close coordination with the relevant Philippine and Japanese government agencies, and representatives of the World Health Organization and Princess Cruises to ensure that the needs of the Filipino crew and passengers
are met and to facilitate their return to the Philippines,” the DFA said.
All crew and passengers onboard will
be tested Monday so the laboratory results will be
available once the vessel’s quarantine period ends.
Since February 3, thousands have
been stuck inside their cabins under mandatory quarantine aboard the Diamond Princess, which
is docked off Yokohama, Japan.
In an interview on CNN Philippines, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the planning for the evacuation of Filipinos aboard the cruise ship has begun.
The virus that originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year has infected
more than 70,000 people and killed over 1,700. — Gaea Katreena Cabico