No COVID-19 cases yet among Filipinos living in Brazil — ambassador

The Philippines’ foreign service post in Brazil has not recorded a single case of a Filipino who contracted COVID-19, an official said Thursday.

Ambassador Marichu Mauro gave the report after Brazil—one of the worst-hit countries by COVID-19—recorded 69,074 new confirmed cases on Wednesday.

“Sa awa ng Diyos wala naman po tayong COVID positive na Filipino so far dito sa Brazil,” she said in a televised briefing. “Sana manatili pong ganoon sa mga susunod na linggo o buwan.”

Around 1,200 Filipinos live in Brazil, according to the embassy.

Mauro said that 14 Filipino seafarers, who are not based in Brazil, contracted the disease, including one fatality. Two of the cases are still in hospitals.

“Hindi po sila nakatira sa Brazil ngunit dumaong ang ships sa Brazilian ports,” she said.

She also reported plans of extending assistance to Filipinos under no work, no pay scheme who were affected by the pandemic. Mauro also said the embassy is working on the requests of Filipinos who wish to be repatriated.

Brazil currently has 2,552,265 COVID-19 cases, with 90,134 deaths. — RSJ, GMA News