Pandemic halts deployment of Pinoy health workers to Japan

Deployment of Filipino health workers to Japan has been temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel V said Thursday.

"There is a travel ban [covering those coming from outside Japan], and the only ones exempted are those from the diplomatic and government service," Laurel said during the Laging Handa briefing.

Pressed on the current situation of the deployment of Filipino health workers to Japan, he said, "Travels are limited to essentials, and because of the pandemic, travelling [here] is not allowed."

Laurel recalled that even members of the diplomatic corps cannot approach Philippine delegates participating in the Tokyo Olympic Games scheduled from July to August.

"The Olympic Games is a go, and we have at least 11 delegates. We are doing everything we can to give them a COVID-19 vaccine and protection," he said.

"But there are very strict. Normal people cannot easily get in touch with the athletes without securing permission, and that is why I will only watch on television," he added.

A number of prefectures in Japan have been under state of emergency, such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Laurel, however, said Filipinos there are largely safe with 135 recoveries, two active cases and one death. —LBG, GMA News