No passengers held over coronavirus – Cebu Pacific
Credit to Author: Benjamin L. Vergara, TMT| Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2020 03:49:16 +0000
Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) on Thursday said passengers and crew of flight 5J111 from Hong Kong were strictly screened by the Bureau of Human Quarantine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after a report that some of its passengers aboard the plane were suspected to have been infected with the coronavirus.
Charo Logarta-Lagamon, CEB Director for Corporate Communications, said in a statement that they “have been alerted to reports from media in Hong Kong regarding four passengers aboard Cebu Pacific flight 5J111 (Hong Kong-Manila) which arrived Wednesday afternoon (about 1:20 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2020) who may have been exposed to a person infected with the coronavirus.”
Lagamon added that all passengers and the crew underwent routine health screening upon arrival in Manila, and “none of them were held for further observation.”
“Nonetheless, we are trying to coordinate with Hong Kong authorities to verify information in media reports,” Lagamon said.
As a precautionary measure, CEB management advised the (January 22) 5J111 passengers “to immediately seek medical attention should they exhibit flu-like symptoms including runny nose, cough, sore throat or fever. We have also disinfected the aircraft following our standard practice for all inbound international flights.”
The airline said it was closely monitoring the spread of the Wuhan virus and has precautionary measures in place for its flights.
It also urged travelers to take precautionary measures by frequent handwashing with soap and water; using alcohol-based hand sanitizer; using a face mask; postponing air travel if feeling unwell. The airline also said health experts recommend travelers to stay home for a minimum of 24 hours after fever subsides.
Meanwhile, the Manila Imternational Airport Authority (MIAA), operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and the Department of Health (DoH) have coordinated to enforce strict implementation of quarantine measures to prevent the entry of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) from China.
MIAA public affairs Chief Connie Bungag said “the MIAA is here to support DoH’s Bureau of Quarantine where they need help.”
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), which operates most airports in the country, also said that it was working in coordination with the DoH and the Bureau of Quarantine in closely monitoring arriving passengers from China especially at Kalibo International Airport, which has direct flights from Wuhan and other cities in China.