No Filipino fatality due to COVID-19 in Japan — envoy

Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel V. INQUIRER.net photo / NESTOR CORRALES

MANILA, Philippines — No Filipino in Japan has died of the novel coronavirus infection as nearly all those who were afflicted with the respiratory disease have recovered, Philippine Ambassador to Tokyo Jose Laurel V said Monday.

According to Laurel, the six Filipino land-based workers in Tokyo who were infected with COVID-19 have all recovered, as well as those 21 in Osaka, and one in Nagoya.

For sea-based Filipino workers, the diplomat said a total of 121 crewmembers of the virus-hit cruise ships Diamond Princess in Yokohama and the Costa Atlantica in Osaka have all recovered and were safely repatriated to the Philippines.

“So wala hong namamatay na Pilipino dito at mahusay po lahat nakakarecover ho lahat,” Laurel said in a televised public briefing.

(So no Filipino died here in Japan and everyone is stable, all of have recovered.)

Japan has one of the lowest COVID-19 mortality rates in the world. According to the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center, there are currently  17,367 confirmed cases in Japan, including 15,514 recoveries and 927 deaths.

While over 1,000 Filipinos have already been repatriated from Japan, Laurel said 126 more who are stranded are now waiting for the lifting of travel restrictions and availability of flights to take them back to Manila.