MANILA - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday reported that 116 more Filipinos abroad were sick with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), raising the total tally of overseas infections among Filipino nationals to 984.

The highly-contagious disease has also killed 25 more overseas Filipinos, the highest reported number of deaths in two weeks, raising the total to 140 deaths, the agency said.

The number of those who recovered from COVID-19 is also up 259, the DFA added.

(1/5) Today, the DFA records 116 new COVID-19 cases among our Filipinos abroad, giving a total of almost 1,000 confirmed cases (334 DOH IHR verified) across the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and Middle Easts/Africa. pic.twitter.com/tMSOXodUf0

— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) April 19, 2020

The DFA also announced the death of Philippine Honorary Consul General in Stockholm Erik Belfrage, who succumbed to complications arising from COVID-19.

"While we mourn yet another fallen diplomat, the DFA remains committed to ensuring the welfare of our people, monitoring their status and assisting their needs through our continuous repatriation efforts," the agency said in a statement.

As of Sunday, some 585 of the identified cases are undergoing treatment for the disease, broken down as follows by regions: 109 in the Asia Pacific Region, 274 in Europe, 142 in the Middle East and Africa, and 60 in the Americas.

In the Philippines, the novel coronavirus has so far infected 6,259 people, with 409 deaths and 572 recoveries.

• Philippines reports 172 new COVID-19 cases, total now at 6,259; recoveries at 572

-- Report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News