Kalinga suspends entry of LSIs to avoid surge in COVID-19 cases

BAGUIO CITY — Kalinga province will temporarily stop accepting returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs) starting Aug. 24 until Sept. 2, authorities there said.

The 10-day moratorium for the entry of LSIs who are returning home will help prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the province and avoid overcrowding in isolation units.

As of Sunday, the province has recorded 89 COVID-19 cases, 48 of which are active.

Records from the Kalinga inter-agency task force showed that the province recorded its first two “imported” COVID-19 cases on June 10 and 11.

The two were a returning overseas Filipino Worker and an LSI.

On July 27, health officials there recorded the province’s first local transmission.

JE