21 Filipinos in UAE succumb to Covid-19

Quintana added that Filipinos are treated with respect and high regard in the UAE. (File photo: Tai’s Captures/Unsplash)

MANILA – Twenty-one Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have succumbed to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the Philippine Embassy in UAE reported Wednesday.

Ambassador Hjayceelin Quintana said 17 were recorded in Dubai and four in Abu Dhabi.

She assured that the embassy, for its part, remained ready to assist Filipinos in the Gulf state. Currently, the embassy continues to process documents for the exit clearance of Filipinos requesting repatriation.

“Rest assured that we are prepared to extend necessary help and find solutions for problems that may arise, we at the embassy and consulate are here to help everyone,” she said in Filipino during the Laging Handa briefing.

Quintana said mobility restrictions in UAE have been relaxed, with some malls already opening its doors.

Despite the loosening of restrictions, she advised the Filipino community to remain vigilant and to continue to observe protocols imposed by local authorities.

Quintana added that Filipinos are treated with respect and high regard in the UAE.

The Middle Eastern country had recently donated seven metric tons of medical supplies to the Philippines as part of global response against Covid-19 and partly to thank Filipino front-liners working in the state.

“Ang UAE is known to be a model of humanitarian giving, hindi lang sa mga panahong ito kahit noon pa man, ‘yan po ay kanila talagang thrust bilang isang member of the international community (UAE is known to be a model in humanitarian giving, not only in this time of crisis but even then, that’s their thrust as a member of the international community),” she said.

“Gusto nilang magpasalamat din sa atin dahil maraming front-liners dito na Pilipino na nakakatulong sa pagpuksa ng Covid at lagi nilang inaalala ang mga Pilipino sa panahong ito, they have very high regard sa ating mga Pilipino (They also wanted to express their gratitude to the many front-liners here who are Filipino, helping in the fight against Covid. They’ve always thought of the welfare of Filipinos in this time and they have high regard for them),” she added.

In the UAE, around 14,730 have been infected and 137 died. Globally, there are 3,517,345 cases of Covid-19, according to the latest data from the World Health Organization.