Catholic priest in Batanes asked to undergo quarantine after visiting virus-hit countries

Itbayat town Mayor Raul De Sagon (center) meets with representatives of various sectors in the municipality to discuss precautionary measures against the coronavirus disease. Photo by Nathan E. Alcantara

ITBAYAT, BATANES — Local officials said they were trying to convince a Catholic priest based in this town to subject himself to a 14-day quarantine after arriving from virus-hit countries.

Itbayat town Mayor Raul De Sagon had asked Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco and Vice Gov. Ignacio Villa to prevent the priest, who arrived in Basco town on Monday, from going back to Itbayat. The island town of Itbayat, which is the country’s northernmost municipality, has about 3,000 residents.

The priest had a travel history to Italy, France and Israel, where confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been reported.

De Sagon said the priest should undergo quarantine at the Batanes General Hospital in the capitol town of Basco since medical facilities in Itbayat had been damaged by earthquakes last year.

“Majority of the parishioners who attend Masses are senior citizens, the most vulnerable sector of the population based on the experience of other countries,” De Sagon told the Inquirer.

De Sagon clarified that subjecting the priest to the mandatory quarantine is not a form of discrimination.

“[We] would rather err on the side of health and safety of our people. In a worst case scenario, we may have to take extreme measures,” the mayor said.

Dr. Allan Sande, Itbayat District Hospial chief, said they have readiness protocols in place despite having only one test kit and two sets of personal protective equipment.