By Roy Mabasa
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday recorded 17 new deaths, 25 new cases, and six recoveries in its latest tally of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) cases among Filipinos abroad.
In a report, the DFA said the 17 new deaths were from the Middle East, making it now as the region with the most number of overseas Filipinos who died of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). It is also the region with the highest number of Filipinos afflicted by COVID-19.
The new figures brought the total number of COVID-19 cases to 5,566 and number of recoveries to 2,497.
On the other hand, the total death is now at 426, including the 169 in the Middle East, while live cases or those still undergoing treatment are placed at 2,643.
The DFA clarified that the numbers reflected in their daily tally are based on “generally reported in other sources,” adding that some countries, including those in the Middle East, have told Philippine foreign posts abroad not to share details of Filipinos afflicted with COVID-19.
Earlier on Monday, DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. met with the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Manila Abdullah Al-Busseiry to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the 700,000-strong Filipino community in the Kingdom amid concerns raised over the security and health conditions of OFW in that part of the Middle East.