Filipino toddler recovers from COVID-19 in UAE

MANILA, Philippines — An 18-month old baby has become the youngest Filipino survivor of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Philippine embassy in UAE announced on Friday.

The baby, identified as Zaine, tested negative three weeks after both he and his mother were confirmed to have contracted the virus and started treatment.

“All Filipinos in the UAE, including us at the embassy, feel and suffer the effects of COVID-19,” said Philippine ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana.

“We rejoice in the recovery of Zaine and join family members of other Filipino COVID patients in UAE in celebrating the recuperation of their affected loved ones,” she added.

According to the embassy, the baby did not exhibit any symptom of the disease but tested positive seven times.

The embassy described it as a second miracle for the baby, who was born three months premature in October 2018.

His mother experienced very mild symptoms during isolation. It is unclear if she has already tested negative like her son.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases involving Filipinos in the UAE has yet to be released.

But in the Laging Handa briefing on Friday, Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes said 23 Filipinos have already died in Dubai alone.

“We join the families in mourning the loss of those Filipinos in UAE who succumbed to the virus,” said Quintana.

She called on Filipinos to remain vigilant in exercising COVID-related precautions even as restrictions in the Gulf nation are starting to ease.