Dubai denies OFW died of coronavirus, citing pneumonia

Dubai authorities have denied that a 58-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from General Santos City died of coronavirus, stating she died from pneumonia.

Laboratory tests conducted on the deceased domestic helper showed she did not have the virus, according to the Dubai government media office.

This contradicts the earlier statement by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who had confirmed the OFW's death from coronavirus.

Secretary Bello has since apologized to the Government of Dubai for the confusion caused by his statement.

He also stated that the agency would provide assistance to the OFW's family and a Filipino seafarer who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (nCoV) aboard a cruise ship in Japan.