Batanes logs 2nd COVID-19 case

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines — Batanes recorded its second coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 case yesterday.

Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco said the patient was also a co-passenger on an Air Force plane of the first patient, who arrived in Basco on Sept. 22.

Cayco said the second case, who is also asymptomatic, was brought to a quarantine facility in Sabtang.

She said two persons who interacted with the first patient tested negative for the virus.

Cayco said they are waiting for the results of swab testing on 49 other persons who had interacted with the patient.

Lt. Rico Cayabyab, Batanes police spokesman, said the new case is a male locally stranded individual.

As this developed, Department of Education-Batanes division superintendent Eduardo Escorpiso Jr. said they are ready to start classes on Monday.

Escorpiso said they did not entertain the idea of holding face-to-face classes even when the province had not recorded any case.

Meanwhile, in Pangasinan, Dasol town remains COVID-free.

Mayor Noel Nacar cited the strict implementation of the guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or IATF for the town’s COVID-free status.

In Bacolod City, three teams composed of doctors, nurses and other health aides deployed by the Central Command (CentCom) arrived on an Air Force plane on Wednesday night.

CentCom chief Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan said the medical teams would replace those who were deployed in August when Mayor Evelio Leonardia asked for reinforcement after several doctors and nurses were quarantined.

Bacolod recorded 4,025 confirmed cases as of Wednesday.

Gov’t offices closed

In Rizal, all government offices in Baras town were shut down after several employees tested positive for COVID-19.

Mayor Katherine Robles said all transactions would resume on Monday.

Baras recorded 16 active cases on Wednesday.

Also in Rizal, the Antipolo city government closed two private markets in Barangay San Roque after vendors were caught violating quarantine protocols.

Mayor Andrea Ynares said city officials also found out that the sewage treatment plants of the markets were broken.

Antipolo recorded 26 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total to 2,429. – Gilbert Bayoran, Emmanuel Tupas, Eva Visperas, Cesar Ramirez, Neil Jayson Servallos