DOH, DFA send off 49 quarantined repatriates

“We are glad that all our repatriates from China are well and did not exhibit any signs of the Covid-19. Through everyone’s cooperation, we have zero infections and zero mortalities. We also welcome a most wondrous gift, the birth of a baby boy, who was delivered healthy and strong at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a statement. (PIA file photo)

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH), together with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), held on Saturday a send-off ceremony for all the repatriates quarantined at New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac after not showing symptoms of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The 49 persons who completed their 14-day quarantine period were composed of the 30 overseas Filipinos from Wuhan, China, together with five DOH medical team members, five DFA response team members, six plane crew, and three ground personnel.

“We are glad that all our repatriates from China are well and did not exhibit any signs of the Covid-19. Through everyone’s cooperation, we have zero infections and zero mortalities. We also welcome a most wondrous gift, the birth of a baby boy, who was delivered healthy and strong at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a statement.

The repatriates received certifications of quarantine completion from DOH and were given financial assistance from the DFA, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Department of Social Welfare and Development.

In recognition of their invaluable contributions to this mission, the DOH issued a resolution recognizing and thanking the DFA, OWWA, Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Quarantine, Central Luzon Center for Health Development (CHD), the local government unit of Capas, and the DOH hospitals.

“Also among those deserving of utmost gratitude are the hospital teams composed of personnel from Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital, Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital, Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center, Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center, Talavera General Hospital, BOQ, and Central Luzon CHD who from the start have tirelessly cared for our quarantined kababayans,” Duque said.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to the selfless individuals who have braved threats and health risks to offer help to their fellow Filipinos. Most notably, we thank the five-man DOH Team, Dr.

Neptali Labasan from the Bureau of Quarantine as team leader, Dr.

Oliver Macalinao from San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital, Mr. Elmer Collong and Mr. Rowell Divinagracia from the Philippine Heart Center, and Mr. Jose A. JuanJr. from the Health Emergency Management Bureau. Your dedication and commitment to help our kababayans in need deserve the highest commendations,” he added. (PR)