Pinoys in Japan safe amid rise in COVID-19 cases

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos in Japan are largely safe amid an increase in COVID-19 infections and the extension of a state of emergency in Tokyo and other major cities for several weeks now until this month, Philippine Ambassador to Tokyo Jose Laurel V said yesterday.

Laurel said the embassy does not have big data of Filipinos who tested positive for COVID-19.

Filipinos who contracted the virus, he said, included 80 seafarers from Diamond Princess and 41 crewmembers of Costa Atlantica cruise ships.

Of the 56 cases recored in Tokyo, Laurel said one Filipino died.

A total of 82 cases were reported in Osaka of which 80 have recovered while two remain active cases.

“Beyond that, everybody is fine,” Laurel said during the televised Laging Hand briefing.

He, however, admitted that vaccination in Japan is slow, citing the meticulous attitude of the Japanese and their system.

“They are very meticulous. They don’t change their ways just like that. They really study their system,” Laurel said. “That is the real reason.”

The Japanese government on Friday extended the COVID state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka and seven other prefectures by three weeks, citing persistent high infections.