By Roy Mabasa
Filipinos traveling to South Korea are cautioned to delay non-essential travel as a precaution as cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in that country reached more than 700.
People in traditional Korean hanbok dresses wear face masks as they visit Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul on February 23, 2020.(Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) came out with a late-night advisory on Sunday after news of spiraling COVID-19 cases was reported in South Korea specifically in the areas of Daegu and Cheongdo where more than half of the total number of cases have been earlier reported.
It clarified that the Philippine Embassy in Seoul has not received information that there are Filipinos infected by COVID-19, adding that it is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the members of the Filipino community in ensuring their safety.
At the same time, Filipinos in South Korea are directed to monitor and comply with the advisories from South Korean health authorities and cooperate with efforts to quell the further spread of COVID-19.
Filipinos in South Korea are advised to contact the emergency hotline number of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul at (+82) 10-9263-8119.
The DFA said those experiencing symptoms of the virus should immediately contact the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) at 1339.
Based on a June 2019 DFA report, there are approximately 60,139 Filipinos in South Korea.
The Korea Immigration Service, on the other hand, puts the number of Filipinos in the affected areas at 4,289.
Read more:Â S. Korea becomes biggest coronavirus center outside China
People in traditional Korean hanbok dresses wear face masks as they visit Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul on February 23, 2020.(Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) came out with a late-night advisory on Sunday after news of spiraling COVID-19 cases was reported in South Korea specifically in the areas of Daegu and Cheongdo where more than half of the total number of cases have been earlier reported.
It clarified that the Philippine Embassy in Seoul has not received information that there are Filipinos infected by COVID-19, adding that it is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the members of the Filipino community in ensuring their safety.
At the same time, Filipinos in South Korea are directed to monitor and comply with the advisories from South Korean health authorities and cooperate with efforts to quell the further spread of COVID-19.
Filipinos in South Korea are advised to contact the emergency hotline number of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul at (+82) 10-9263-8119.
The DFA said those experiencing symptoms of the virus should immediately contact the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) at 1339.
Based on a June 2019 DFA report, there are approximately 60,139 Filipinos in South Korea.
The Korea Immigration Service, on the other hand, puts the number of Filipinos in the affected areas at 4,289.
Read more:Â S. Korea becomes biggest coronavirus center outside China