By Betheena Unite
The death toll from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among Filipinos abroad remained at 340 as no new fatalities were reported Saturday (May 30), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
Department of Foreign Affairs (MANILA BULLETIN)
The number of COVID-19 cases among Filipinos overseas rose to 2,869 as 24 new cases were confirmed on the same day. Recoveries, on the other hand, grew to 975 with 28 new recoveries among the nationals abroad.
The newly recovered patients, according to the Foreign Service Posts, are mostly from the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe.
“The latest figures continue to highlight the different stages of the COVID story across the four major geographic regions where Europe and Middle East still have the highest number of recorded Filipinos infected with COVID-19, Asia and the Pacific has fewest number of cases and highest in recoveries, while the Americas still has the highest number of fatalities,” the agency said.
Experts, it added, are now also studying why fatalities are comparatively much lower in the Asia-Pacific region compared to the other areas.
As of May 30, Asia-Pacific Region has recorded two deaths with 488 confirmed cases, 137 of them are still recuperating, while 349 have already recovered from the disease.
Most of the deaths among Filipinos abroad were in the Americas, where 150 nationals died of the disease and 655 cases among Filipinos were confirmed there as well.
Most confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Filipinos abroad, however, are recorded in Middle East with 909 cases, and Europe with 817.
Meanwhile, repatriated overseas Filipinos have reached 31,352 since the agency began bringing back Filipinos affected by COVID-19 in February.
A total of 20,633 returning Filipinos were sea-based while 10,719 were land-based.
“Repatriation operations are ongoing and overseas Filipinos who wish to be repatriated must contact the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General their area,” the Foreign Affairs department said.