Over 400 Filipinos leave Diamond Princess ship

February 25, 2020

Over 400 Filipinos have disembarked from the Diamond Princess cruise ship as they prepare to leave for the Philippines on two chartered Philippine Airlines flights, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.

"The DFA-PH Embassy in Tokyo, working closely with the Japan Self Defense Force and the Department of Health medical team, are bringing over 400 Filipinos from Yokohama port to Haneda Airport by bus for scheduled repatriation flights to Manila," the DFA said,

As this occured, the Department of Health said at least 80 Filipinos from the Diamond Princess cruise ship were left behind in Yokohama after they were found positive of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). 

In a radio interview,  Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said "there have been 80 that were found positive. So they won't be included in the repatriation."  

All Filipinos from cruise ship hit with COVID-19, though, are experiencing mild symptoms only, said Duque. 

"But definitely, the number of those to be repatriated got smaller," said Duque. 

According to Duque, only some 450 Filipinos will be headed by home after being cleared by quarantine personnel. 

"We cannot give a definitive number of repatriates until they have come onboard. We will be making sure that those with symptoms won't be able to get on those flights," said Duque. 

Upon arriving, the Filipinos will be brought to the quarantine facility in New Clark City in Tarlac. 

Records show there were 538 Filipinos on the cruise ship, including 531 crew members and seven guest passengers. DMS