MANILA, Philippines — The United States government has repatriated more than 600 American citizens in the Philippines amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The US Embassy in Manila said the repatriation was carried out on Saturday through special flights with Philippine Airlines.
“The U.S. government has no higher priority than ensuring the safety, welfare, and security of U.S. citizens overseas,” the embassy said in a statement.
As of Sunday, there were 10,794 COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, including 1,924 recoveries and 719 deaths.
Meanwhile, the US is the most COVID-19-hit country globally with over 1.3 million cases, 78,794 deaths, and 212,534 recoveries so far according to the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center.