The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday reported 73 new confirmed COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases among overseas Filipinos, a substantial increase due to belated reporting in a lone country in Europe.
In a statement, the DFA said the delay was due to the existing privacy policy in the unnamed European country.
In the same report, the department said two new fatalities and 1 new recovery were recorded in Asia and the Pacific, and the Middle East.
To date, the total number of COVID-19 cases involving overseas Filipinos 11,665. Of this total, 3,332 are undergoing treatment, 7,497 have recovered or have been discharged from various health facilities worldwide, and 836 succumbed to the disease.
Meanwhile, 174 overseas Filipinos, mostly seafarers made it home this week through the government’s repatriation program for distressed and stranded nationals.
Another 105 Filipinos were also flown to Manila on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, from Palau where they were stranded following the outbreak of the pandemic in February this year.
The DFA assured that its personnel in the various Foreign Service Posts worldwide remain steadfast in partnering with local health authorities and agencies to ensure Filipinos' awareness of and adherence to preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic.