55 Filipinos in Malaysia test positive for coronavirus — envoy

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles Jose reported Friday that 55 Filipinos in the Southeast Asian country have tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

According to Jose, all but one of the COVID-19 infected Filipinos arrived from the Philippines to attend a Muslim convention in Selangor.

Of the 55 Filipinos, nine have already been discharged, while the remaining 46 are still undergoing treatment.

“Minomonitor po ng embassy ang kanilang status and safety on a daily basis. Sila po ay nakaconfine sa mga hospitals at doon sila nagpapagaling,” Jose said in a virtual “Laging Handa Press Briefing” aired over state-run PTV.

To date, Malaysia has the highest number of COVID-19 infection in Southeast Asia, based on the collation of the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center, with reported 3,116 COVID-19 cases, 50 of whom have died while 767 have recovered.

Image from the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

Meanwhile, the Philippines ranked second in terms of COVID-19 infections in the region with 2,633 confirmed cases. Of the number, 107 have died while 51 recovered.

Worldwide, the disease, which originated from Hubei, China, has infected over 1 million people in more than 180 countries and territories with the global death toll standing at 53,146 although 211,615 were able to recover.

EDV