First COVID-19 case confirmed in Batanes

BATANES – The provincial government here confirmed the province’s first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case, Tuesday, September 29, after a locally stranded individual (LSI), who recently returned to the province, was found to be positive for the deadly virus.

According to an official bulletin released by authorities, the patient was a 29-year-old male, who had travel history from Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, and returned to Batanes last September 22 onboard a Philippine Air Force repatriation flight.

It was the first-ever confirmed COVID-19 case in the island province since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in March.

According to officials of the provincial government and the Department of Health in Region 2 (DOH 2), the reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) test result was relayed to this province from Tuguegarao City on Tuesday.

The patient was asymptomatic, and is now under strict isolation at a local resort.

All close contacts of the patients are already being traced, while other LSIs, who arrived with him, are now being closely monitored by the provincial COVID-19 task group.

With the province’s first confirmed infection, authorities have called on local residents to observe minimum health and safety protocols.

Meanwhile, the Prelate of Batanes announced Tuesday the suspension of all public masses until October 13 after the province confirmed its first COVID-19 case.

Bishop Danilo Ulep issued the circular to all the clergy, religious and laity after the Provincial InterAgency Task Force (IATF) “declared the whole of Batanes under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ)”.

Ulep also said that the Cathedral of the Immaculate ConceptionBatanes will continue to hold online masses, which will be aired on livestream on its Facebook page.