Pinoys infected with Covid-19 abroad exceed 9K-mark

The DFA said no new recoveries or deaths were reported by its foreign service posts, maintaining the total number at 5,321 and 634, respectively. (File photo: @visuals/Unsplash)

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday said 21 more Filipinos contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 in the Asia Pacific, bringing the total tally to 9,001.

The DFA said no new recoveries or deaths were reported by its foreign service posts, maintaining the total number at 5,321 and 634, respectively.

As of this posting, there are 3,046 Filipinos undergoing treatment from Covid-19, 149 in the Asia Pacific, 505 in Europe, 2,273 in the Middle East/Africa, and 119 in the Americas.

“The DFA reminds all our nationals abroad to continuously cooperate with local health authorities as we all work together and take proactive action in fighting against and preventing the spread of the pandemic. Together, we heal as one,” the DFA said in a statement.

In a separate statement, the agency said it remains committed to bringing home all distressed Filipino workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused thousands of job cuts worldwide.

This week alone, the agency facilitated the return of 11,688 Filipinos, bringing the total number of repatriates to 90,497 since the outbreak began.

Of this number, 44.8 percent or 40,540 are sea-based while 55.2 percent or 49,957 are land-based, with the most recent repatriates arriving from the Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States on Friday.