Gov’t preparing for evacuation, quarantine of Filipinos from China

January 31, 2020

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the government is preparing for the evacution and quarantine of Filipinos from the areas in China affected by the 2019 novel coronavirus.

"Yes, we are preparing for evacuation and quarantine. We're looking for an area with buildings which can be remodeled into a seclusion area. Beyond that info I can not give you more," Lorenzana said.

"We will plane them (Filipinos from China) in on a chartered flight. That’s the plan," he added.

National Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said the Department of Health (DOH) has activated an inter-agency task force as part of the governments effort to prevent the spread of the infectious disease.

"It's an inter-agency so the actions will be whole of government approach," he said.

Mark Timbal, NDRRMC spokesman, said "the NDRRMC will follow the lead of DOH being the subject matter expert on this concern".

"Just like what was done in the dengue outbreak and other previous health emergencies. All the member agencies of the NDRRMC are ready to provide support to all the actions that will be recommended and implemented by DOH," he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is set to repatriate the first batch of Filipinos from China next week. Robina Asido/DMS