The first Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) case in Batanes has been recorded on Tuesday after 7 months of being COVID-free.
According to the report of the Batanes local government, the patient is a locally stranded individual (LSI) who arrived in the province on September 22 via a Philippine Air Force plane.
The Department of Health (DOH) Region 2 has identified the patient as a 29-year-old male and a native of Itbayat Island but is currently residing in Basco Town. The patient is currently asymptomatic and isolated as a precautionary measure. All his close contacts are also quarantined and being monitored by the Batanes COVID-19 task force.
The Batanes government will temporarily suspend all commercial flights for 2 weeks starting September 30. The same goes with all mass and religious gatherings.
Report from Oliver Baccay and Patrick De Jesus
