The Department of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that the government has repatriated 19,407 overseas Filipino workers, with the arrival of more than 818 more overseas Filipinos.
The latest batch of OFWs came from the United Kingdom, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Australia.
The repatriates arrived on three separate chartered flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday afternoon and early morning on Friday.
“DFA is unwavering in its commitment to assist kababayans who are severely affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic and to date, has successfully facilitated the repatriation of 19,407 Filipinos from all over the world,” the DFA said in a statement.
Doctors from the Philippine Coast Guard administered rapid testing for COVID-19 on the repatriates upon their arrival.
They were also briefed on quarantine protocols before they were transported to designated facilities where they will undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Meanwhile, 12 more Filipinos overseas have recovered from the COVID-19, bringing the total recoveries to 307, the DFA said.
Confirmed COVID-19 cases increased to 1,122 across the Americas, Asia Pacific Region, Europe Middle East, or Africa.
“Based on the latest figures, the rate of new recoveries at 4.07 percent remains higher than the rate of new deaths at 1.89 percent,” the DFA said in a statement on Thursday.
On the other hand, the death toll has increased to 162 while patients undergoing treatment were recorded at 653.