DOLE: NCoV-positive Filipinos in Japan, UAE on their way to recovery

MANILA, Philippines — The two overseas Filipinos who have contracted the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outside the Philippines—one from Japan and one from the United Arab Emirates—are now currently recovering, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Monday.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, Bello said the Filipinos are now on their “way to recovery.” He also bared that the migrant worker from UAE may be released by Monday.

A Filipino was reportedly among the first two confirmed cases of nCoV in the UAE. This was the second time that a Filipino tested positive of the new coronavirus strain outside the Philippines.

A Filipino seafarer was earlier confirmed to have contracted nCoV while onboard a cruise ship in Japan. He was among the 538 Filipino crew members of the Diamond Princess who were put on quarantine.

Thirty Filipinos were repatriated to the Philippines from the Chinese province of Hubei, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak. They, along with two consulate staff, will be quarantined for 14 days at the New Clark City Athletes’ Village in Capas, Tarlac.

The labor chief noted that they have yet to receive any request from Filipinos to be repatriated from their 40 Philippine Overseas Labor Office due to the 2019-nCoV.

The total number of deaths in mainland China is now at 902. The global death toll, meanwhile, is at 904, with one death reported each in Hong Kong and the Philippines.