A FILIPINO in Singapore tested positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Brigido Dulay said Sunday, February 23.

This is the first confirmed Covid-19 case involving a Filipino in Singapore.

The patient is in isolation at Singapore's National Centre for Infectious Diseases and is in stable condition, Dulay said in a post on Twitter Sunday.

Dulay said the Philippine Embassy in Singapore is in close contact with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

"SG (Singapore) health officials to monitor the condition and well-being of our kababayan," Dulay added.

On Saturday, February 22, a second Filipino in United Arab Emirates was confirmed positive with Covid-19, the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi reported.

The 34-year old Filipino is reported to be in stable condition.

The first Filipino case in UAE, a 43-year-old Filipino, has been transferred to another medical facility and is being closely monitored as his condition is not improving, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

"The Embassy maintains close coordination with the UAE authorities, assuring that our kababayan is being given maximum care and support," the DFA added.

Including the two Filipinos, there are a total of 11 Covid-19 cases in the UAE, according to its Ministry of Health and Prevention.

In Japan, where a cruise ship was placed under quarantine for 14 days until February 19, a total of 55 Filipinos were reported to have been found positive for Covid-19, Locsin said.

Dulay, on the other hand, said 49 Filipinos tested positive for the virus as of Saturday. Of the 49, two have recovered and have been discharged from Japanese hospitals.

Covid-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the infectious pathogen novel coronavirus.

As of Saturday, the World Health Organization said a total of 77,794 individuals worldwide have been infected, including 76,392 in China.

Of the total, 2,348 have died from the disease in China while 11 others have died across 28 countries. (NJN/SunStar Philippines)