35 Filipinos in Singapore still in hospital, isolation due to COVID-19 — envoy

People take pictures in front of the Merlion statue in Singapore on May 5, 2021. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Some 35 Filipinos based in Singapore who are active cases of COVID-19 are currently in hospitals and in isolation there, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph Yap said Tuesday.

As of May 16, a total of 578 Filipinos were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 in Singapore since the start of the pandemic, Yap said.

Of the number, 543 have recovered.

“Nasa 35 na lang ang nasa hospital, ang nasa isolation,” Yap said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

Yap said there were no deaths among Filipinos in Singapore due to COVID-19.

The Singapore government is shouldering all expenses for the hospitalization of COVID-19 patients there, Yap said. Those who test positive for the coronavirus are immediately brought to the hospital or isolation wards, he added.

Meanwhile, for the Philippine embassy’s part, Yap said they are able to assist COVID-afflicted Filipinos in terms of their urgent needs or contacting their kin.

As of May 16, the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in Singapore is at 61,585, including 61,184 recoveries. Only 415 cases are considered active in the country, Yap said.

Starting May, Singapore has tightened restrictions on social gatherings and stricter border measures after recording locally acquired cases of coronavirus variants, including a strain first detected in India.

READ: PH’s active COVID-19 case count now at 54,235

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