APD | Philippine government evacuates 30 citizens from Wuhan

By APD writer****Melo M. Acuña

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) successfully evacuated 30 Filipinos who expressed desire to return from Wuhan city, ground zero of the 2019-nCOV Acute Respiratory Disease now known as Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia.

The repatriated Filipinos aboard a chartered flight landed at Haribon Hangar in Clark Air Base in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga Province early Sunday morning. The repatriates included 29 adults and one infant.

They were accompanied by a 10-member team from the Philippines which included two members from the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai, three members from the Department of Foreign Affairs and five medical team members from the Department of Health (DOH).

The repatriates were “safely and swiftly” transferred from the plane into their dedicated buses and brought to the Athlete’s Village in New Clark City in Tarlac Province which will be their home for the 14-day required quarantine period.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said they made the initial call for the repatriation of Filipino nationals in China on January 28,2020 which was facilitated by the Philippine Embassy in Beijing and the Philippine Consulate in Shanghai, the Foreign Service Post which has jurisdiction over Wuhan City in Hubei province. ( Melo M. Acuña )