21 Filipinos in UAE have died of COVID-19

DUBAI: Twenty-one Filipinos in the UAE have died of COVID-19, according to Ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana.

Speaking during a live-streamed interview with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) in Manila yesterday, Quintana, head of the Philippine mission to the UAE, told PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar and Undersecretary Rocky Ignacio that 17 of the fatalities were from Dubai and four were from Abu Dhabi.

“About 17 sa sumakabilang buhay ay (mula) sa Dubai at 4 po sa Abu Dhabi,” Quintana said, adding that they based these figures from Notifications of Death that they receive.

“Iyan po ang information at the moment,” Quintana said.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), 215 Filipinos have died of COVID-19 globally as of May 6, 2020.

There were 1,905 confirmed COVID-19 cases; 1,167 undergoing treatment; and 523 discharged.

The figures were from 46 countries and regions across the world, DFA said.

Meantime, Quintana urged the Filipino community in the UAE to strictly observe health and safety protocols in light of eased restrictions on the movement of people that were started to be implemented two weeks back.

“Kailangang patuloy pa rin ang pag-iingat kahit nagsisimula na ang normal,” Quintana said. “Dapat po huwag maging complacent.”

New COVID cases

Also yesterday May 6, the UAE reported 546 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 15,738.

This figure includes the 12,222  patients receiving treatment; 3,359 recovered cases; and157 deaths.

Dr. Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, official spokesperson of the UAE government, also announced plans to further expand the scope of coronavirus testing, noting that health authorities have performed 25,573 additional tests.  

Dr. Sahmsi said that 30 of the latest confirmed cases were from 2 families that held a family gathering without adherence to precautionary measures and social distancing. The cases include a baby under the age of two months and several elderly people, she said.