(UPDATED) All the 30 repatriated Filipinos from Wuhan, China were healthy, according to the Department of Health.
The China-based Filipinos who returned home early Sunday morning are currently quarantined at the Athlete’s Village of the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. They are expected to stay there together with the crew of the Royal Air airplane until their release.
The Filipinos under observation did not show symptoms of the novel coronavirus (2019 nCov-ARD) since their arrival on Sunday, said DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo allaying fears of the communities encompassing Capas town.
Said Domingo: “Lahat po ng mga dumating ay malusog.”
Domingo said health workers will be deployed to monitor the health of residents near the NCC complex.
Domingo earlier said the repatriates “will not come in contact to the community” as the DOH coordinated its operations at the NCC. The DOH reached out to the town officials of Capas after Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan had been “perturbed by the fact that Department of Health (DOH) did not at all, in any way, involve the Capas LGU in its last-minute decision for New Clark City Capas to be used as quarantine zone for these Persons under Monitoring (PUMs).”
“We acknowledge that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has full jurisdiction over NCC, but I, as the Mayor of Capas, appeal in behalf of all Capasenos to our dear President Rodrigo Duterte and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque to consider another place or facility as isolation area.”
Before the arrival of 30 Filipino repatriates, a handful of Capas residents held a lightning rally as the town council prepares a resolution against the use of NCC as quarantine hub.
In a 360 degree turn around, Catacutan said: “We in Capas, offer our homes, our symphaty, and prayers for the health of our fellow Filipinos and I hope there will be a permanent solution for nCov. We Filipinos, always help each other at wala pong makakapagbago doon. Only wrong information can destroy a relationship as strong as what Filipinos have.”
Catacutan had earlier donated personal hygiene kits for the use of the quarantined Filipinos at NCC. He also provided meals for them including the 80 PNP personnel securing the NCC area.
In order to allay the fears of Capaseños living within the immediate vicinity of New Clark City, Catacutan has also deployed Medical teams in the area to conduct random checkups to the residents.
Medical teams came from the Proviincial Health Office and Municipal Health Office of Tarlac and Capas respectively. They are supported by the Local MDRRMC Emergency Medical Technicians. Relatedly, the provision of medicines was also covered by the Provincial and Local Government Unit of Capas.