THE Philippine government has approved the repatriation plan for Filipinos onboard a coronavirus-infected cruise ship in Japan, Malacañang announced on Friday. Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the plan to bring home Filipinos aboard the M/V Diamond Princess docked in Yokohama, Japan, during their meeting at the Department of Health – Central Office on the same day. “The Office of the President also assures the public that all precautionary measures and safety protocols are in place for the seamless repatriation of our countrymen from Japan,” he added. As of date, the Palace official said there were 497 Filipinos who were to be repatriated to the Philippines. He said the repatriated Filipinos were expected to arrive early next week at the Clark International Airport through two chartered flights from the Haneda Airport.

Source: Manila Times February 21, 2020 14:50 UTC