FROM a massive drug rehabilitation center, the 10-hectare facility in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija is now being eyed as a possible quarantine area for Filipinos that are set to come home from China, which is the epicenter of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
In an interview, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III said they have proposed the use of the Mega Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (MDTRC) as the quarantine facility for those that will avail of the repatriation from China.
"Filipino citizens, who are currently in China, regardless of which province, will be allowed to return to the Philippines. They will be required to go on quarantine for 14 days in the proposed facility: Fort Magsaysay," said Duque.
This, he said, is as long as the venue gets the approval from the interagency team that will conduct the inspection.
"There will be an expeditious joint inspection by a composite team led by the DOH, AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), and PNP (Philippine National Police) that will be conducted," said the health chief.
He added that there will be an assessment of the vicinity around the facility before the proposal is approved.
"Any potential apprehension and resistance from the community, where the repatriation and quarantine site is located, will be addressed by the composite team," said Duque.
At present, the official said there are around 40 to 50 Filipinos from Wuhan, China that have signified their desire to be brought back to the Philippines.
He said arrangements for their flight back to Manila is already being facilitated.
Duque stressed that the repatriation will be done for free, and will not be charged to the returning Filipinos.
Suspected 2019-nCoV cases
As for cases under investigation, the DOH said the 29-year-old Chinese male, who died of pneumonia at the San Lazaro Hospital last Wednesday, was found to be negative of the 2019-nCoV.
According to DOH Epidemiology Bureau head Dr. Ferchito Avelino, the test results on the deceased patient showed that he was not afflicted with the novel coronavirus.
"It's not 2019-nCoV. His samples are negative of the novel coronavirus," said Avelino.
The man was considered as a person under investigation (PUI) due to his travel history to Wuhan and is carrying symptoms of the disease.
The Chinese male was also found positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The deceased patient is one of the 31 PUIs recorded by the DOH since the start of the outbreak.
A total of 23 PUIs remain admitted in different hospitals while awaiting for their laboratory test results.
One individual has also tested positive for the 2019-nCoV; while the remaining six have already tested negative for the virus and have been discharged. (HDT/VoxPop Philippines)