Jeddah PCG suspends ops after staff gets Covid-19

“The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah wishes to inform the public that it is temporarily suspending all its operations (passporting, legalization of documents, civil registry, Philippine Overseas Labor Office, Social Welfare Attaché, SSS, Pag-IBIG, and Philippine Trade and Investment Center services) from 23 June to 2 July 2020,” it said in an advisory dated June 22. (File Photo: Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah/Facebook)

MANILA – The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has suspended its operations on June 23 until July 2 after one of its personnel and two former wards tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah wishes to inform the public that it is temporarily suspending all its operations (passporting, legalization of documents, civil registry, Philippine Overseas Labor Office, Social Welfare Attaché, SSS, Pag-IBIG, and Philippine Trade and Investment Center services) from 23 June to 2 July 2020,” it said in an advisory dated June 22.

The consulate said its infected staff had duties involving “high public exposure” while its two ex-male wards were recently repatriated to the Philippines.

“All consulate personnel have been instructed to self-quarantine and to seek medical attention should they develop the symptoms,” it said.

Those who visited the office from June 14 to June 18 are advised to monitor themselves and call 937 should they exhibit Covid-19 symptoms.

Despite the suspension, the consulate would continue responding to emergency requests for assistance and can be reached at 055-521-9613 or 055-521-9614.

As of this posting, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases among Filipinos abroad has surpassed 8,300, majority of which are concentrated in the Middle East at 6,096.