MANILA -- The Philippine Embassy in Brazil on Thursday reported that 14 Filipino seafarers whose ship docked in Brazil were diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
"Mayroon tayong Filipino seafarers, hindi sila nakatira dito sa Brazil nguni’t nang dumaong ang ships sa Brazilian port, mayroon tayong 14 who were found out to be Covid-positive (We have Filipino seafarers who are not residents of Brazil. When their ships docked at a Brazilian port, 14 of them were found to be Covid-positive)," Philippine Ambassador Marichu Mauro said during the “Laging Handa” briefing.
Mauro said of the 14 seafarers, 11 have been discharged and repatriated, two are undergoing treatment, while one died.
She also clarified that none of the estimated 1,200 land-based overseas Filipinos in Brazil has so far been afflicted with the dreaded disease.
Meanwhile, Mauro noted that several Filipino workers there have been displaced due to the closure of the establishments they were working in.
"Sa ngayon ay humihingi kami ng financial resources para makapagbigay tayo ng ayuda sa kanila. Hinihintay natin itong request sa Department of Foreign Affairs (At present, we are asking for financial resources so we could provide them some assistance. We are waiting for our request from the DFA)," she said.
Based on the latest data from the World Health Organization, Brazil has a total of 2,442,375 confirmed cases, 87,618 of whom have died. (PNA)
