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Overseas Filipinos during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Overseas Filipinos during the COVID-19 pandemic
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationWorldwide
(excluding the Philippines)
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Index caseFebruary 5, 2020
(4 years, 4 months, 2 weeks and 2 days) aboard Diamond Princess (off the coast of Yokohama, Japan)
Confirmed cases19,765[1]
Active cases6,534[1]
Recovered12,037[1]
Deaths
1,194[1]
Territories
94 countries[1]
Government website
dfa.gov.ph/covid-19-advisories

Overseas Filipinos, including Filipino migrant workers outside the Philippines, have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of June 1, 2021, there have been 19,765 confirmed COVID-19 cases of Filipino citizens residing outside the Philippines with 12,037 recoveries and 1,194 deaths.[1] The official count from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the cases of overseas Filipinos is not included in the national tally of the Philippine government.[2] Repatriates on the other hand are included in the national tally of the Department of Health (DOH) but are listed separately from regional counts.[3]

Background[edit]

See also: COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines

The DFA provides information regarding the number of Filipino nationals abroad to have contracted COVID-19 and keeps an official tally of confirmed cases by region instead of by country. This count is not included in the national tally of cases provided by the DOH.[3]

The DFA collects information regarding the Filipino nationals with COVID-19 from its diplomatic posts abroad which in turn rely information from the patients themselves, their relatives and Filipino expatriate communities. Efforts to collect and disseminate data by the DFA is hampered due to the prohibition of classifying patients by nationality in some countries as well as requests by some Filipino patients for strict confidentiality regarding their situation. A small number of the DFA's COVID-19 tally has been verified by the Department of Health International Health Regulations (DOH-IHR).[4]

The first confirmed case of a Filipino national outside the Philippines was announced by the DFA on February 5, 2020. It involves a crew member of the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Yokohama, Japan.[5]

Cases by region[edit]

Confirmed cases of Filipino nationals outside the Philippines (
)
Region[a] Cases Active Recov. Deaths
Middle East and Africa[b] 11,249 4,172 6,288 789
Asia-Pacific[c] 4,010 1,317 2,660 33
Europe[d] 3,522 930 2,462 130
Americas[e] 984 155 627 242
Total 19,765 6,534 12,037 1,194
Note: Data as of June 1, 2021.[1]
For notes, see the Notes section.


Asia Pacific[edit]

In the Asia Pacific region, outside the Diamond Princess, at least one Filipino case has been confirmed in Australia,[6] Bangladesh,[7] Brunei,[8] mainland China,[9] Japan,[10][11] South Korea,[12] Hong Kong,[13] Macau,[14] India,[8] Malaysia,[15] the Maldives,[16] Singapore,[17] Thailand,[18] Taiwan,[19] and Vietnam.[20]

Following an international tabligh convention held from February 7 to March 1, 2020, at the Jamek Sri Petaling mosque near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the DFA reported that 19 Filipinos who attended the convention tested positive and were quarantined in Malaysia. Two others managed to return to the Philippines and later tested positive by Philippine health authorities.[15]

In Singapore, at least 134 Filipinos tested positive for COVID-19.[21]

In Japan, at least 28 "land-based" Filipinos mostly based in Osaka were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19. 121 others Filipinos, who are seafarers of Diamond Princess in docked off the coast of Yokohama and the Costa Atlantica in Osaka also tested positive for COVID-19. No fatality was recorded in Japan as of June 15.[11]

Middle East and Africa[edit]

In the Middle East at least one Filipino case has been recorded in Egypt,[22] Israel,[23] Kuwait,[24] Lebanon,[25] Libya,[26] Oman,[27] Qatar,[28][29] Saudi Arabia,[30] and the United Arab Emirates.[31] One notable case in the region was that of Philippine ambassador to Lebanon, Bernardita Catalla, who died on April 2 in Beirut due to complications from COVID-19 and chronic respiratory problems.[32]

One of the most affected country in the region is Saudi Arabia where at least 119 Filipinos tested positive for COVID-19, and at least five died from the disease.[30] The Philippine embassy in Riyadh's office of labor affairs announced on June 14 its temporarily closure after six of its staff tested positive for COVID-19.[33]

In Kuwait, at least 300 Filipinos were confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19, 31 of them have died from the disease.[34] In the United Arab Emirates, at least 40 Filipinos have died from COVID-19 in Dubai alone.[35]

According to the Department of Labor and Employment, there are at least 3,000 Filipino COVID-19 cases in Qatar. This information though was released without clearance from the Philippine embassy in Doha.[36]

Europe[edit]

In Europe, at least one Filipino case has been confirmed in France,[37] Germany,[38] Greece,[39] Ireland,[40] Norway,[41] Spain,[42][43] Switzerland,[44] and the United Kingdom.[45] On March 23, Philippine Council for Foreign Relations President Alan Ortiz died in Paris, France.[37]

Some Filipinos in Italy were also reported to have contracted COVID-19, although the exact number of cases cannot be disclosed due to privacy law in Italy.[46] In Spain, at least 82 Filipinos tested positive for COVID-19, while six have died from the disease.[43]

In the United Kingdom, there are at least 573 Filipinos, including dual nationals and ethnic Filipinos who holds no Philippine-citizenship who tested positive for COVID-19. At least 78 of this figure died from the disease. In Ireland, there are at least 80 confirmed Filipino COVID-19 cases, and three deaths.[47]

At least 32 Filipino crew members of the MS Roald Amundsen which was docked in Tromsø, Norway tested positive for COVID-19.[41]

Americas[edit]

In the United States, it was confirmed that six Filipinos aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in Oakland, California for quarantine, had contracted the virus.[48] On March 13, a Filipino working in New York as a diplomat with the Philippines' UN mission was confirmed to be positive for the virus, which led to the entire mission at the Philippine Center being disinfected and closed for the day.[49] Filipino Americans have been among the hardest hit ethnic groups with COVID-19, in part because of a high percentage of Filipino Americans are in healthcare professions or in essential work such as postal service, grocery store work, and sanitation.[50]

In Canada, at least 200 Filipinos contracted COVID-19 as of mid-May 2020.[51]

Some Filipinos in the Caribbean also reportedly tested positive for the disease.[52]

There are no recorded cases among land-based Overseas Filipino Workers in Brazil as of July 30,[53] which has the second highest COVID-19 cases in the world at the time according to the Philippines' ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro. However Mauro noted that 14 Filipino seafarers whose ship has recently docked in Brazil tested positive for the disease.[54]

Repatriation[edit]

Main article: Evacuations by the Philippines related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Repatriated Filipinos disembark their plane at Clark Air Base, Pampanga on February 9.[55]

The Philippine national government has repatriated citizens from various COVID-19 affected countries and cruise ships. As of April 13, at least 13,000 Overseas Filipino Workers have been repatriated according to the DFA.[56] Philippine Airlines, the country's flag carrier, has volunteered several repatriation flights as early as March.[57]

The first of such efforts by the government involved repatriating Filipino nationals in Hubei, China. The government began the repatriation process on January 18.[58] Upon arrival in the Philippines, individuals underwent mandatory quarantine for 14 days.[59]

The Athlete's Village at the New Clark City Sports Hub which also has a clinic run by the Philippine General Hospital was chosen as the quarantine site for repatriated Filipinos and New Clark City was locked down on February 6 in preparation for the arrival of the repatriated.[60]

Impact[edit]

According to the OWWA, around 300,000 to 400,000 OFWs are estimated to be affected by the pandemic either from pay-cuts, lay-offs, and repatriation. Remittances from OFWs to the Philippine economy which would have served as a cushion to the pandemic's other economic impact is also likewise to be affected. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the country's central bank, projects a 2 to 3 percent decline from last year. In 2019, remittance from OFWs amounted to $33.9 billion or almost ten percent of the Philippines' gross domestic product.[61] The National Economic and Development Authority, then under Secretary Ernesto Pernia projects a $6.7 billion to $10 billion loss in remittance.[62] Around 20,000 Filipino seafarers across the world has also lost their jobs.[63]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The DFA's data does not provide a breakdown of cases by country; instead, cases are consolidated by region.
  2. ^ Recorded from 35 countries.
  3. ^ Recorded from 24 countries.
  4. ^ Recorded from 21 countries.
  5. ^ Recorded from 13 countries, including those identified on Grand Princess.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Number of COVID-19 Cases Among Filipinos Abroad (As of 01 June 2021)". Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines). June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  2. ^ "COVID-19 cases among OFWs reach 5,184". CNN Philippines. May 31, 2020. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "COVID-19 Tracker". ncovtracker.doh.gov.ph. Department of Health. June 1, 2021. Archived from the original on February 10, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  4. ^ Cabuag, V. G. (March 26, 2020). "PSEi back in 5K points on BSP moves | VG Cabuag". BusinessMirror.
  5. ^ Mabasa, Roy (February 10, 2020). "DFA confirms 1st case of Filipino positive for nCoV". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  6. ^ Aguilar, Krissy. "37 out of 38 Filipinos in Australia infected with COVID-19 have recovered – envoy". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  7. ^ "Philippine citizen with COVID-19 symptoms dies in Bangladesh". New Age.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "2 Filipinos test positive for COVID-19 in Brunei, India". CNN Philippines. March 22, 2020. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  9. ^ Lopez, Virgin (June 12, 2020). "Filipino community in mainland China COVID-free –envoy". GMA News. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  10. ^ "120 overseas Filipinos infected with COVID-19 – DOH". GMA News.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Esguerra, Darryl John (June 15, 2020). "No Filipino fatality due to COVID-19 in Japan – envoy". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  12. ^ "Philippine embassy reports first Filipino COVID-19 case in Korea". GMA News.
  13. ^ "Another OFW in Hong Kong tests positive for coronavirus: DFA official". ABS-CBN News. March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  14. ^ Esguerra, Darryl John. "OFW is Macau's 15th COVID-19 case". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b Cabrera, Ferdinand (March 23, 2020). "19 Filipino tablighs positive for COVID-19 quarantined in Malaysia". MindaNews. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  16. ^ "COVID-19 deaths in Maldives rise to 9 - Xinhua". Xinhua. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  17. ^ Tan, Trisha (February 23, 2020). "DFA confirms first case of Filipino positive of COVID-19 in Singapore". The Filipino Times. Archived from the original on February 29, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  18. ^ "Filipino in Thailand dies due to COVID-19 as infections climb: envoy". ABS-CBN News. July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  19. ^ Everington, Keoni (July 28, 2020). "Taiwan reports 5 new imported coronavirus cases from Philippines, HK". Taiwan News. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  20. ^ Le, Nga (July 23, 2020). "Three Russia returnees, Filipino woman up Vietnam's Covid-19 count". VN Express. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  21. ^ Obanil, Rizal (June 14, 2020). "92 Filipinos recover from COVID-19 in Singapore". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  22. ^ "Lone Filipino afflicted with COVID-19 in Egypt recuperating". Manila Bulletin News.
  23. ^ "DFA records first Pinoy COVID-19 death in Israel". Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  24. ^ "Filipino domestic helper tests positive for COVID-19 in Kuwait". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on March 21, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  25. ^ "DFA: 2 Filipinos positive for COVID-19 in Lebanon". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  26. ^ "Nurse becomes first Filipino to have COVID-19 in Libya". cnn. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  27. ^ Rocamora, Joyce Ann (June 30, 2020). "Pinoy dies of Covid-19 in Oman; 9 undergoing treatment". Philippine Canadian Inquirer. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  28. ^ "Gulftimes : Recovered Covid-19 patients laud Qatar's healthcare facilities". m.gulf-times.com. May 7, 2020.
  29. ^ Dela Cruz, Raymond Carl (July 13, 2020). "15 Pinoys in Qatar infected with Covid-19: envoy". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  30. ^ Jump up to: a b Esguerra, Darryl John. "5 Filipinos die of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia; at least 119 infected". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  31. ^ Santos, Eimor (February 8, 2020). "Filipino in UAE tests positive for novel coronavirus". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on February 9, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  32. ^ Barakat, Mahmoud (April 2, 2020). "Philippines' ambassador to Lebanon dies of coronavirus". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  33. ^ "Coronavirus: Yemen, Philippines close missions in Saudi Arabia". Al Jazeera. June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  34. ^ "31 Filipinos in Kuwait died of COVID-19 – official". GMA Network. July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  35. ^ "40 Filipinos die of COVID-19 in Dubai". Manila Bulletin News.
  36. ^ Mabasa, Roy (September 29, 2020). "DOLE erred in announcing number of Filipino COVID-19 cases in Qatar without clearance – DFA". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  37. ^ Jump up to: a b Tomacruz, Sofia (March 23, 2020). "PH Council for Foreign Relations president Alan Ortiz dies of coronavirus". Rappler. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  38. ^ Esguerra, Darryl John. "9 Filipino frontliners in Germany tested positive for COVID-19". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  39. ^ Cabico, Gaea Katreena (March 18, 2020). "Filipino tests positive for COVID-19 in Greece". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  40. ^ "Another Pinoy dies of COVID-19 in Ireland". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  41. ^ Jump up to: a b "Coronavirus update: Norwegian authorities look for disembarked cruise passengers after 40 from vessel test positive". ABC News. August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  42. ^ "CBCP: Filipino priest, 72, dies of COVID-19 in Spain". ABS-CBN News.
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  44. ^ "Pinay mula sa Italy na nagpositibo ng Covid-19, naka-quarantine sa isang hospital sa Switzerland" [Filipina from Italy positive for Covid-19, quarantined at a hospital in Switzerland]. Bombo Radyo Philippines (in Filipino). March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
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  46. ^ Aguilar, Krissy. "Envoy: 97 Filipinos in Europe test positive for coronavirus". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
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  49. ^ "Diplomat from Philippines first known coronavirus case at UN in New York". Reuters. March 13, 2020. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2020 – via CNA.
  50. ^ David, E.J. (April 15, 2020). "5 Ways COVID-19 Might Be Affecting Filipino Americans". Psychology Today. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  51. ^ "200 Pinoys in Canada infected with COVID". Daily Tribune. May 19, 2020. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  52. ^ "137 Filipinos in US, Caribbean countries died of COVID-19 -ambassador". GMA News Online. May 13, 2020.
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  57. ^ Asaf, Seher (April 29, 2020). "Philippine Airlines to fly additional repatriation flights from Los Angeles, New York". Business Traveller. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
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  60. ^ Navales, Reynaldo (February 7, 2020). "Communities around New Clark City assured of safety, protection". Sun Star Pampanga. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  61. ^ Manlangit, Mary (May 18, 2020). "The Hurting Heroes: The COVID-19 Crisis and Overseas Filipino Workers". Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  62. ^ "Phl May Lose Up To $10 Billion in OFW Remittances Amid COVID-19 Pandemic". One News. April 9, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  63. ^ Alindogan, Jamela (May 20, 2020). "Thousands of Filipino seafarers out of work". Retrieved June 2, 2020.
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