31 Filipinos in Kuwait died of COVID-19 — official

Thirty-one Filipinos, including four health care workers, have died of COVID-19 in Kuwait, an official said Thursday.

Chargé d'Affaires Charleson Hermosura also said 260 have recovered out of around 300 Filipinos who tested positive for the infectious disease in the Gulf state.

He said COVID-19 casualties in Kuwait are immediately buried.

At the Laging Handa briefing, Hermosura said around 23,000 Filipino migrant workers in the country have either lost their jobs or were subject to a no-work, no-pay arrangement due to the pandemic.

He said the number is based on the number of applications to the financial assistance program by the labor department, in which qualified overseas Filipino workers will get a one-time cash aid of P10,000 or $200.

Of the 23,000 applicants, around 5,000 have received assistance, he said. The official added that the Philippine embassy in Kuwait has distributed 31,000 food packs to Filipinos since the pandemic started.

He said around 4,000 Filipinos have been repatriated since March 25.

Hermosura said the embassy was closed after two personnel tested positive for COVID-19 on July 2. He said they hope to reopen on Sunday. — RSJ, GMA News