By Betheena Unite
More overseas Filipino patients infected with the coronavirus have recovered as 35 new recoveries were reported Saturday, outnumbering the number of new cases four days in a row now, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
The number of new recoveries among Filipinos abroad is now at 824 while the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was brought to 2,360 with 30 new cases recorded.
Five more patients succumbed to the disease on the same day. The death toll among Filipinos abroad is now at 274, scattered in countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific.
“Today marks the fourth consecutive day of more recoveries than new confirmed cases and fatalities among Filipinos abroad as reported by our Foreign Service Posts,” the agency said.
“Based on the latest figures, Asia and the Pacific still has the most number of recoveries and lowest in mortality. While Europe and Middle East remain as leaders in terms of total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among nationals abroad, followed by the Americas which ranks first in mortality,” the DFA added.
Most cases abroad remain in the Middle East with 558 cases, while Europe has 381 cases of Filipinos with COVID-19. The Americas is currently handling 190 COVID-19 cases among Filipinos, while the Asia Pacific Region has 133 cases.
Most of the recoveries abroad, on the other hand, can be found in the Asia Pacific Region with 310, while most of the fatalities were recorded in the Americas with 148 deaths.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, hundreds of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) undergoing the 14-day mandatory quarantine remain free from the disease, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
As of May 16, the three quarantine facilities in Port Area, Manila dedicated for repatriated OFWs remain free of COVID-19, the Coast Guard said.
A total 468 returning OFWs are currently staying at the three quarantine sites -- two ships and one terminal. A total of 208 OFWs are staying onboard MV St. John Paul II and 58 workers onboard the MV Anthony de Padua, while 202 are staying at the Eva Macapagal Terminal.