Pinoy Grand Princess crew member dies of COVID-19

SAN FRANCISCO - A Filipino crew member aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship died of the coronavirus after being transferred off the ship last month, according to Bay Area advocacy groups.

The male worker was sent to a hospital in San Francisco where he eventually succumbed to the disease, becoming the third person aboard the ship to die from the coronavirus.

Terry Valen, president of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), was informed of the death of the crew member by the latter's Filipino shipmates who have since been repatriated.

Valen said he could not provide any further information about the fataility at this time.

In an email to Fox 2 KTVU, spokeswoman Negin Kamali of the Princess Cruises said they are deeply saddened by the death of one of their team members on Grand Princess who passed away from complications related to COVID-19.

Philippine Consulate General Henry Bensurto Jr. of San Francisco told ABS-CBN News they attempted to request if the crew member's daughter could come to the US to see him before his passing. 

But the highly contagious nature of the disease did not make it possible.

Bensurto said the Filipino was able to video chat with his family before his death.