MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has recorded a total of 88 COVID-19 cases among its personnel in March, prompting the agency to maintain a reduced workforce “until further notice.”
In a statement, the DFA said recent COVID-19 testings at the department this month “saw a significant surge” in infections among staff members “consistent with the alarming increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.”
“For the month of March 2021, the Department recorded a total of 88 positive cases, mostly consisting of our frontline personnel. This is the highest number of positive cases in the Department since the start of the pandemic,” it said.
The DFA sought the public’s understanding of the “recent closures and delays in services that they may have experienced due to the plight of its frontliners.”
For assistance-to-nationals concerns, the DFA said the public can reach out to the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs through the following 24/7 cellphone hotlines:
Globe- 0967-442-1825
Smart- 0908-344-2070
Meanwhile, for consular concerns and schedule of consular offices, the DFA advised the public to check https://consular.dfa.gov.ph.