Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 3) — Batanes is mulling reopening to tourists, an official said Saturday.
Should the northernmost province’s borders reopen, visitors will be required to go through a two-week quarantine, Governor Marilou Cayco told CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Weekend.
“Pinaguusapan… Makikipagcoordinate kami sa [Department of] Tourism kung saka-sakali mabubukas kami. Pero ang task force sa Batanes ay mahigpit na ipapatupad iyong 14 days of quarantine,” she said.
[Translation: We are talking about it. We will coordinate with the Department of Tourism once we decide to reopen. But when that happens, our task force will strictly implement the 14 days of quarantine.]
Only two tourist spots – Boracay Island and Baguio City – have welcomed back visitors but with strict health protocols.
Cayco said they carry out localized lockdowns as the province now has two COVID-19 cases.
“Kailangan po naming maghigpit upang mapanatiling ligtas ang nakakarami,” Cayco said.
[Translation: We need to be strict to keep most of our people safe.]t
Earlier this week, two locally stranded individuals who arrived on September 22 tested positive for coronavirus. They haven’t shown symptoms and are now going through quarantine in an isolation facility, the governor said. The province was free from coronavirus for almost eight months.
