Filipino family in Jeddah tests positive for COVID-19

A Filipino family of six -- including a one-year-old -- is currently in isolation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after testing positive for the coronavirus disease 2019.

According to "Sonia," whose real name was kept confidential, her husband is now being treated in a hospital while she and her children aged 8, 7, 5 and 1, are in isolation in a hospital.

Sonia is employed as a secretary of a hospital in the area, while her husband works as a porter for the same medical facility.

"May 25, nagpunta na siya ng ER at kinunan na siya kaagad ng subtesting. Noong (May) 27, Wednesday, doon lumabas 'yung result na positive siya," she said in a report on GMA's "24 Oras Weekend" on Sunday.

"In-isolate siya kaagad sa ospital kasi malala 'yung symptoms niya, ubo at lagnat," she added, noting that she and her children remain asymptomatic for the disease.

According to data from the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, a total of 113 Filipinos in the area tested positive for COVID-19. Eight of them have died, while 96 recovered.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested that the casualties be buried there to avoid contamination, but the Philippine government is appealing that they be allowed to be brought home to the Philippines.

"Sinagot natin ang Ministry... na ang ating trradisyon kung non-Muslim, 'yung namatay, kailangan maiuwi 'yung bangkay. So ang pinakiusap natin sa Saudi government ay i-hold 'yung bangkay hanggang mag-normalize ang international flights," said Consul General Edgar Badajos.

"Kapag mag-normalize na, ang hinihiling natin ay i-ship 'yung mga bangkay sa Pilipinas. Mukhang pumayag naman ang Saudi Arabia," he said.

Locally, the Philippines recorded a total of 21,895 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday, June 7, 2020. This includes 1,003 deaths and 4,530 recoveries. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News