Coronavirus infects 2,397 Filipinos abroad — DFA

MANILA, Philippines — The number of Filipinos aboard who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus virus that causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is now at 2,397, with 37 new confirmed cases as of Sunday, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Data from the DFA showed that a total of 277 overseas Filipinos have also died of COVID-19 while 826 have so far recovered or were discharged from hospitals. A total of 1,294, meanwhile, are undergoing treatment.

Of these figures, two new recoveries and three new deaths were recorded in the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. No new reports were received from the Asia Pacific region.

17 May 2020

Today, the total number of COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad is now almost 2,400 with 37 new confirmed cases, 2 new recoveries, & 3 new death recorded in the Americas, Europe, and Middle East/Africa. No new reports were received from the Asia & the Pacific. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/1V45MYB9Aj

— DFA Philippines 🇵🇭 (@DFAPHL) May 17, 2020

“Despite the decrease in the daily rate of recoveries reported by the DFA through its Foreign Service Posts today, latest figures show that the total number of Filipinos abroad who recovered from COVID-19 at 826 cases is now almost three times more than the total fatalities and comprises about 34% of the total confirmed cases,” the DFA noted.

According to DFA, there are 46 countries or regions with confirmed COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad.

The DFA has recorded 723 COVID-19 cases among overseas Filipinos in Europe; 687 cases in the Middle East; 542 cases in the Americas, and; 445 cases in the Asia Pacific region.

Data from the Department of Health showed the number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines rose to 12,513 as of Sunday. The death toll is now at 824 while the number of patients who have recovered from the illness is at 2,635.

/MUF