MANILA, Philippines — The total number of COVID-19 deaths involving Filipinos in Dubai has increased to 40, Philippine Consul General Paul Raymond Cortes said Friday.
“Nung nakaraang linggo, halos kwarenta na rin po na mga kababayan natin na sadly ang nasawi dahil sa COVID-19,” Cortes said in an online Laging Handa press briefing.
More than two weeks ago, Cortes reported that 23 Filipinos in Dubai have died due to the novel coronavirus.
According to the diplomat, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to start to gradually reopen its economy, especially in the entertainment and tourism sectors where many Filipinos are employed.
Nonetheless, he reminded Filipinos in Dubai not to be complacent even after COVID-19 restrictions have been eased in the Middle Eastern city.
Cortes also reported that the Philippine government has extended cash assistance to around 7,000 Filipino workers in Dubai who have been displaced by the pandemic.
According to the latest tally by the online COVID-19 monitoring platform Worldometer, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UAE is 32,532 with 258 deaths and 16,685 recoveries.