TOKYO – More than 300 Filipinos in Japan have been infected with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic early this year but no one was seriously ill, an official from the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo told a virtual press briefing Friday.
“Ang data po natin from our Department of Health at Ministry of Health ng Japan, mayroon pong mga 308 na Pilipino na nagkaroon po ng COVID-19. Sa kabutihang-palad po wala naman po tayong nabalitaan na seryoso ang kalagayan. Marami sa kanila ay na-discharge na mula sa ospital,” said Deputy Chief of Mission Robespierre L. Bolivar.
“And in the next day or two, may inaasahan po tayong may mga patuloy pa pong madi-discharge sa mga ospital na gumaling na po sa COVID-19,” he added.
He also reported that the Embassy had assisted in the repatriation of about 1,100 Filipinos affected by the pandemic, including the Filipino crew members from the COVID-19-stricken cruise ship M/V Diamond Princess that was quarantined in the port of Yokohama in February.
As of June 30, there were approximately 335,000 Filipinos residing and working in Japan, around 57,000 of whom were OFWs, while a large percentage were either married or have families and living permanently in the country. - Florenda Corpuz
