Batanes still free from coronavirus; only suspected COVID-19 case tests negative
MANILA, Philippines — The only suspected case of new coronavirus infection in Batanes has tested negative, thus, allowing the province to remain free from the highly contagious respiratory ailment COVID-19.
“The specimen (swab) of the lone ‘suspect COVID case’, which was forwarded to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for confirmatory testing is found negative for SARS-CoV-2,” the local government said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
JUST IN!! #BatanesBantayCOVID19 #LetUsHealAsOne#IvatansLabanSaCOVID19
Posted by Provincial Government of Batanes on Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Meanwhile, Cagayan Valley currently has 27 confirmed cases of COVID-19, four of which are admitted in hospitals while 17 have recovered. The region has also posted one death due to the virus.
Batanes belongs to the Cagayan Valley region.
Earlier, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there are 30 provinces in the country that are either COVID-19 free or have prolonged “doubling time” of the disease.
She added that COVID-19 cases are mainly concentrated in the National Capital Region.
As of April 21, the Philippines has 6,599 individuals with COVID-19, including 473 fatalities and 654 recoveries, according to the Department of Health.
KGA
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