MANILA - A Filipino seafarer in Italy has expressed concern over the health of fellow cruise ship members after being exposed to some passengers who later tested positive for the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Pinoy crew who declined to be identified is working on cruise ship Costa Luminosa.

"Ngayon medyo OK naman kami, madami nga lang may sakit sa amin at hindi pa kami lahat na-tetest. Andito kami ngayon sa Savona, Italy," he said.

(We’re a little ok, a lot of us are sick and have yet to be tested. We’re here now in Savona, Italy.)

Italy ranks second to China, the origin of the virus, in terms of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 63,927 with 6,077 deaths, according to the World Health Organization, as of March 24.

Globally, the WHO has recorded 372,757 confirmed coronavirus case and 16,231 deaths.

The Filipino seafarer shared their situation aboard the ship and the growing fear of being among those who fell ill with the virus.

He said a couple who was sick had disembarked in Puerto Rico and they learned later on that the said guests were positive for the virus.

The ship was prevented from docking in Antigua and headed to Tenerife in Canary Islands in Spain, where several other passengers who were unwell disembarked.

What worries them most was that they were exposed to the couple for about a week.

"Wala silang assurance na ibinigay basta kailangan lang namin magtrabaho at mag-deliver ng pagkain sa kabina ng pasahero," he said.

(There was no assurance given to us except to continue working and deliver food to passengers’ cabins.)

While the environment became unsafe for them, he said they continued working, provided only with a face mask for protection.

"Sinasabi ng amo namin na safe kami dahil naka-face mask naman daw kami," he said.

(They told us we're safe because we're using face masks.)

The management, he added, began monitoring the body temperature of crew members and that a lot of them were already getting sick.

"May sakit na crew member, hindi ko alam ang exact count lalo na sa mga ibang department. Pero sa restaurant, 30 kaming may sakit, may mga nag-positive na din at ibinaba na sila sa barko," he said.

(I don’t know the exact count of crew members who are now sick especially in other departments. But in the restaurant, there are at least 30 of us who are sick and there were even some who tested positive and had to disembark the ship.)

He said he now has cough and fever.

With no clear directions and with them getting sick, the ship's crew are starting to get anxious and at the same time feel disappointed with how the situation was being handled, he said.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation said it has been updated on information regarding the health and safety of crew members on Costa Cruises ships.

"As a precautionary measure, Costa Cruises ships screen the temperature of all guests, visitors, and crew members and check for any flu-like symptoms. As part of its health protocol, crew members are currently occupying guest cabins – at one (1) crew member per cabin. All crew members are provided with food and are treated well," the statement read.

But the Pinoy crew refuted this.

"Ayaw nga magbigay ng isolation [room] ng mga doctor. Kapag nag-request ka ng isolation magagalit pa sila. Hindi naman daw kailangan," he said.

(The doctors don’t even want to provide an isolation room. When you request for one, they will just get mad. They’ll say it's not necessary.)

The maritime agency added that it is in contact with Costa Cruises for the repatriation of Filipino crew members and the treatment of those requiring immediate hospital care.

The company said repatriation will only be for those who test negative for COVID-19. Those who test positive will be taken to a hospital for monitoring and treatment.

Meanwhile, those who had close contact with a crew or guest who tested positive will be quarantined in a hotel in Italy.

The Pinoy crew member said they are still on board waiting to disembark.

"Nag-start na kami magpa-disembark ng mga crew. As usual, huli na naman ang mga Asian countries," he said.

(We started to disembark crew and as usual those from Asian countries would be the last to leave.)

He hopes that he and other crew members would be tested soon to be able to ease their anxiety.

"First, ma-test sana kami agad-agad para malaman namin kung positive ba kami or what para maasikaso din kami. Kasi dito walang medical assistance na aasahan. It's been 4th or 5th day here pero iilan lang 'yung na test sa amin," he said.

(First, we want to get tested so we’ll know if we are positive or what and to get medical treatment. You can’t rely on medical assistance here. It’s been the 4th or 5th day here but only a few of us have been tested.)

He urged Filipino seafarers to take good care of themselves during these critical times.

"Mag-ingat at magpalakas, sarili niyo lang ang aasahan nyo," he said.

(Take care and stay strong. You can only depend on yourselves.)

He also made an appeal to his family back home.

“Dasal lang po at malalampasan din po ang pagsubok na ito,” he said.

(Just pray and we will overcome this challenge.)

At least two other cruise ships, also manned by several Filipino crew members, were earlier struck by the virus: the Diamond Princess that was quaratined in Japan in February, and the Grand Princess, that disembarked passengers off the coast of San Francisco in early March.

• Filipinos disembark from virus-stricken cruise ship off San Francisco
• Crew of virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship start disembarking