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Filipino community in mainland China Covid-free: envoy
MANILA – There are no active cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) among members of the Filipino community in mainland China after the lone infected Filipino worker there recovered, Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Jose Santiago Sta. Romana reported Friday.
“Among the Filipino community, not a single case. It’s a Covid-free Filipino community here,” Sta. Romana said in the virtual Laging Handa briefing.
He said one Filipino who returned to China in March had tested positive but has recovered and is now back to work.
Based on the latest data from World Health Organization, China has 84,652 confirmed coronavirus infections, lower than other nations with six-digit cases.
Sta. Romana attributed the continued decrease in cases to the technology China employed on contact tracing and treatment.
Among these is the use of a mobile application to monitor cases, as well as drones when the outbreak was at its peak.
“They employed a lot of technology to be able to control the epidemic. Now, the condition here is good,” he said.
Meanwhile, more than 200 Filipinos are waiting for the resumption of regular flights, or at least when fares have dropped, to fly back to Manila.
“And those who are asking for help, because of the price right now, we are also waiting for the price to go down. But basically, it’s the availability of flights,” Sta. Romana said.