The Philippine embassy in Indonesia continues to monitor the situation of Filipinos there due to the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases.
According to Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia, Lee Hiong Wee, they have warned the Filipino community in Indonesia to be careful.
“Most of our kababayans here, and advise namin doon, stay at home, keep safe, keep healthy,” said Hiong Wee.
An estimated 6,000 to 8,000 Filipinos are now based in Indonesia, most of them professionals such as teachers.
According to Wee, the Indonesian authorities see past holidays and gatherings as the reason for the spike of cases there.
“The real cause there is during the month of May, holiday sila doon… It was really difficult for the government to prevent them from going to the provinces,” said Wee.
“‘Yong bagong strain ngayon, ‘yong Delta variant, makes it worst,” he added.
According to the Philippine Embassy in Indonesia, 5 Filipinos died of COVID-19 this July.
This Thursday, Indonesia recorded a new record high of new cases, reaching 56,757.
The Philippine government has already implemented a travel ban on travelers from Indonesia to prevent the entry of the Delta variant.
Filipinos in Indonesia cautioned amid spike in COVID-19 cases
The travel restriction affected Filipinos who were scheduled to return to the country at the end of July.
“Over a hundred Filipinos are booked on this flight which will be affected by the travel ban from Indonesia. Per our communications with the airline, they will be rebooked to a later flight,” said Jacqueline Arquiza, vice-consul of the Philippine Embassy in Indonesia.
Malacañang denied that the government was slow in enforcing the travel restriction in Indonesia.
“Hindi naman po too late ‘yan kasi meron naman po tayong datos ng mga dumarating na mga pasahero galing Indonesia,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
In other parts of Southeast Asia, the Philippine Embassy in Singapore also reminded Filipinos to stay indoors as much as possible, avoid crowded places, and practice wearing a face mask.
Singapore recorded high COVID-19 cases after a mass gathering at a KTV bar there was discovered.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia also continues to swell, with 11,619 new cases recorded.
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