MANILA, Philippines — The number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) infected with the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rose to 2,455 as 24 new cases were confirmed as of May 20.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday also said that nine more COVID-infected OFWs have recovered, bringing the total of recoveries to 858. This is 35% of the total confirmed cases.
About 1,300 OFWs are currently getting treated for COVID-19, it added.
Four other OFWs, however, were not so fortunate as they succumbed to the deadly respiratory disease, according to DFA, raising the total of fatalities to 284.
“Despite the decrease in the daily rate of recoveries reported by the DFA through its Foreign Service Posts today, the total number of overseas Filipinos who recovered from COVID-19 at 858 cases is now three times more than the total fatalities at 284 and comprises almost 35% of the total confirmed cases,” the department said in a statement.
Europe hosted the most number of OFWs with COVID-19, which is 748 cases, followed by the Middle East and Africa with 712 cases.
In the Philippines, a total of 13,221 individuals were confirmed to have COVID-19, of which 9,447 are active cases, as of May 20. Nearly 3,000 patients were able to recover but 842 have so far died.