DFA: COVID-19-positive Filipinos abroad now 348; 9 deaths, 111 recoveries
By Roy Mabasa
The total number of overseas Filipinos afflicted with COVID-19 has now jumped to 348, according to the updated infographics provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
In just one day, 13 new cases of Filipinos confirmed to have COVID-19 were added to the tally along with five new fatalities, bringing the total number of dead Filipinos abroad to nine.
“A total of 348 overseas Filipinos from 30 countries/regions covering Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Americas have contracted the disease, of which 228 are undergoing treatment, 111 have recovered, and 5 new deaths from the European region reported since yesterday,” the DFA said in an accompanying statement.
The DFA noted that the new cases were mostly from Europe, one of the epicenters of COVID-19, which has a relatively high presence of overseas Filipino workers, including in hard-hit Italy.
While the widespread cases of COVID-19 pose a challenge to its foreign service personnel abroad, the DFA assured its commitment to ensuring the welfare of overseas Filipinos.
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