By Roy Mabasa
Twelve new COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases, nine new deaths and 64 recoveries were recorded among Filipinos abroad, bringing the total number of overseas Filipinos infected with the disease to 5,401, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported on Tuesday.
The DFA, however, said they corrected the numbers in today’s latest tally after a discrepancy surfaced following double entries sent from a Middle East country.
Of the total, the Middle East remains to have the highest numbers of COVID positive cases (3,354), cases under treatment (1,854), and those recovered (1,366).
The Americas, on the other hand, still have the highest number of fatalities at 153, followed by the Middle East at 134.
Meanwhile, 148 stranded Filipino nationals from Seoul were safely repatriated the other day onboard the special Korean Air flight KE 623.
The DFA said the flight was arranged by the Philippine Embassy in Seoul for Filipino nationals who were stranded in Korea due to intermittent schedules and frequent cancellation of international flights to Manila.
The Philippine government is currently implementing calibrated repatriation to ensure the safety of all repatriates and avoid the clogging of designated quarantine centers in Metro Manila.