THE PHILIPPINE Consulate General (PCG) in Chicago on Wednesday said 17 Filipino-Americans have died of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in midwestern United States.
In a Laging Handa briefing, Consul General Gina Jamoralin said there are 42 confirmed cases of Covid-19 among Filipino-Americans in the entire region. Of the death toll, she said "half" are working in the health care sector.
Amid the pandemic, the diplomat noted that Filipinos have been staying home, except for the front-liners and those in the essential services.
"Actually, all of the midwest states... we are currently on a stay-at-home order except the three states of Iowa and the Dakotas," she said.
She said the consulate has provided support and assistance to the stranded Filipinos in the region. At least 21 J1 visa holders have so far been repatriated to the Philippines, eight of whom were funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs' assistance-to-nationals fund.
"The rest of the stranded Filipinos, many of them opted to stay here for a little while," she said.
Jamoralin added that a social media campaign was also launched to help disseminate humanitarian projects of Filipino organizations.
This includes donating food and humanitarian assistance to front-liners and selected Filipino communities. (By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora)
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