THE Department of Health on Monday reported 101 more patients recovering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the highest in a day since the start of the outbreak early this year.
The total number of recovered patients is now 1,315.
The DOH also reported 262 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total to 9,485 COVID-19 cases, and 16 new fatalities, for a total of 623 deaths.
COVID-19, which first emerged in China last December, has spread to 215 countries and territories, according to the World Health Organization. It has infected almost 3.4 million individuals and killed at least 238,730 persons, based on WHO data as of May 4.
In the Western Pacific Region, the Philippines ranks fifth among countries with the most number of COVID-19 cases after China, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea.
Among Filipinos abroad, there were 68 new COVID cases, mostly from Europe, bringing the total to 1,819, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Of the total, 475 have recovered.
There were four new deaths, or total of 210 among the Filipinos in 148 countries.
“Of the total number of cases, the DFA confirms that over 140 are ship crew members,” the DFA said.
The Americas still has the highest number of deaths with 120, followed by Europe with 73, the Middle East and Africa with 19, and Asia and the Pacific region with two.
Europe has the highest number of infected Filipinos with 575, with 124 recoveries. America registered 488 cases with 121 recoveries; Asia and the Pacific 373 cases with 208 recoveries; and Middle East and African regions with 383 cases and 22 recoveries.
The DFA also said 264 Filipino crew members of cruise ships Carnival Freedom and Carnival Valor were repatriated on Monday amid the threat of the novel coronavirus.
The DFA said the repatriated seafarers were subjected to medical protocols including rapid COVID-19 testing before they were whisked to a facility where they will start the 14-day mandatory quarantine.
The repatriation according to the DFA was spearheaded by the Philippine Embassy in Washington in cooperation with the management of the Carnival Cruises, the owner of the said cruise ships.
As of May 1, the DFA has repatriated some 25,000 Filipinos from all over the world since the COVID-19 outbreak. — With Ashzel Hachero
