Kumpirmadong COVID-19 ang sanhi ng ikinamatay ng pop-rock Mulatto Band lead singer na si Joey Bautista nung nakaraang Huwebes, March 19 kaya on same day ay na-cremate siya at ito’y kinumpirma mismo ng kanyang misis na si Belinda Bagatsing sa pamamagitan ng kanyang Facebook account.
Narito ang post ni Belinda last Friday (March 20) sa kanyan FB account: “Dear All: As you know my husband Joey Bautista passed away yesterday due to pneumonia. He pass away not knowing the result of his covid19 swab test. Today (March 20), I was informed that his official test result came out, positive covid19. If any of you were around us the last 30 days, please monitor yourselves and get yourself checked if you don’t feel well. I have no symptoms and under quarantine for 21 days. Stay safe everytone. For those asking, he was in Legazpi but did not perform in the Legazpi event.”
Nang ito’y mabalitaan ng governor ng Albay na si Gov. Al Francis Bichara ay agad itong nagbigay na direktiba sa kanyang mga kababayan na magpa-self quarantine laluna yung mga taong dumalo sa event ng Mulatto Band.
Si Joey ang unang confirmed Pinoy personality na sumakabilang-buhay dahil sa Covid-19. Habang positibo rin sa coronavirus sina Sen. Migz Zubiri at ang drama king na si Christopher de Leon.