APD | Some Filipinos in Hubei are interested in coming home

By APD writer****Melo M. Acuña

MANILA – Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque said he learned of about 30-50 Filipinos in Hubei are interested in coming home to the Philippines after the outbreak of the 2019-nCOV.

In a radio interview with GMA-DZBB 594 Khz. early Tuesday morning, Secretary Duque said he will meet with various government officials at 9:00 A.M. today to respond to the needs of Filipinos in China.

Among the agencies involved are the Departments of Foreign Affairs and National Defense. However, he said there are Filipinos who will not return to the Philippines and just undergo the 14-day quarantine imposed by Chinese authorities in Wuhan and its immediate surrounding areas.He explained he has already identified a possible location for returning Filipinos for the recommended 14-day quarantine. However, he declined to identify the specific location.

Secretary Duque said Chinese doctors are doing their level best to find remedies to those afflicted with the 2019-nCOV.

In the Philippines, health authorities would subject people suspected of corona virus symptoms to intravenous fluids to keep them hydrated and given paracetamol to control fever as well as analgesic to relieve body pains.

Department of Foreign Affairs figures revealed there were 433,603 Filipinos all over China (Hong Kong, Xiamen, Macao, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Beijing and Shanghai) as of December 31,2018.

A press briefing is expected to be held at 1:30 P.M. today at the Department of Health in the heart of Manila.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)