15 more Filipinos abroad infected with coronavirus as cases near 10,000

FIFTEEN more overseas Filipinos have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected individuals to 9,893, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Saturday, August 15.

The agency also logged 19 new recoveries, raising the number of recovered Filipinos abroad to 5,842.

With three new deaths in the Americas, the death toll sits at 725 fatalities.

“Compared to last week’s percentages, the total number of Filipinos who have recovered from COVID-19 slightly decreased to 59.09% of the total confirmed cases, while those who are under treatment increased to 33.62%. Meanwhile, the percentage of fatalities among COVID-19-affected Filipinos abroad remains at 7%,” the DFA said. 

Overall by region, Europe — which comprises 18 countries — has recorded 1,146 Filipino cases, including 492 undergoing treatment, 559 recoveries and 95 deaths.

The Middle East and Africa, covering 27 countries, have reported 6,892 cases; of which, 2,326 are undergoing treatment, 444 deaths and 4,122 recoveries.

The Asia Pacific region, which spans across 20 countries, has 1,064 cases, with 345 under treatment, 706 recoveries, and eight deaths.

The Americas — covering seven countries like the United States — have 784 reported cases, with 159 undergoing treatment, 454 recoveries, and 178 deaths.

The DFA also said it remains steadfast in its daily repatriation efforts amid the pandemic.

“The DFA’s resolute commitment to our distressed overseas Filipinos was exemplified yet again by the successful repatriation of more than 500 OFs from the UAE on board two special commercial repatriation flights,” the agency said on Thursday.

Next week, it will see the return of more than 400 Filipinos from Lebanon via a chartered flight shouldered by the Philippine government.

More than 134,000 Filipinos have been repatriated since the start of the pandemic, of which 81,972 are land-based while 52,206 are sea-based.

“Sinisikap po natin na by the end of the month aabot tayo ng 200,000 (We’re working to reach about 200,000 by end of the month),” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola said.