By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo is closely and actively monitoring the plight of Filipinos on board Diamond Princess cruise ship currently docked of the port of Yokohama, Japan under quarantine implemented by the Japanese government.

The Diamond Princess is part of the Princess Cruises which embarks on Alaska and Australasian cruises and accommodates 2,670 passengers with a crew of 1,100.

In a statement released late Wednesday afternoon, the DFA said the cruise ship was quarantined when one of the passengers tested positive for the 2019-nCOV Acute Respiratory Disease.

Ten persons onboard the cruise ship including a Filipino national, have tested positive for the virus and will be transferred to a healthcare facility.  The other passengers have been asked to remain onboard the shop for the required 14-day quarantine period.

It was learned there are 538 Filipinos on board the ship.

The Embassy is in constant communication with the remaining Filipinos onboard and has maintained close coordination with Japanese authorities to provide them all the possible help.