Philippine minister apologises to UAE over false claims of coronavirus death

The Philippines’ Labour Secretary who had falsely claimed that a Filipino worker in Dubai died of coronavirus has issued an apology.

Silvestre Bello III from the Philippine Labour Office in Dubai says he regrets causing confusion and anxiety with the announcement.

The Labour Department clarified that the confirmatory tests conducted by the Pathology and Genetics Department of the Dubai Health Authority on the deceased showed negative for the novel coronavirus.

The Philippine Labour Secretary apologises to the Government of #Dubai for the confusion caused after he mistakenly claimed a Filipina died in Dubai due to the coronavirus, and refers to @DXBMediaOffice confirmation that she tested negative for the virushttps://t.co/zKWZ1R2LmQ

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 8, 2020

The Philippines’ Labour Department in Manila also issued a statement on behalf of Silvestre Bello III. It read; “Secretary Bello nonetheless wishes to apologise to the government of Dubai for the confusion and whatever anxiety that the announcement may have caused.”