BAGUIO CITY - - The city government of reminds Baguio people and visitors anew on the importance of their full cooperation and support in the fight against the Corona virus disease with the increasing cases  after  the holiday season  and the looming threat  of    the Omicron variant. 

City health Services Office Medical Officer IV Dr. Donate Panes, in a media forum, said a contingency plan for the Omicron variant is in place and as the city government continues to learn and improve from its experiences,   the city is now more prepared and equipped in fighting COVID – 19.  But she stressed that all sectors are part of the game plan – for the   government and private institutions to strengthen their disease control surveillance and for the public to follow the minimum public health standards and the city government- imposed health and safety protocols.

City Tourism Officer Aloysius Mapalo also reminds tourists to be aware of the city’s health and safety protocols especially strict compliance to the minimum public health standards.

The city government has slowed down the approval of leisure travel into the city but as tourists are still accepted, strict implementation of the control system through the visita.baguio.gov.ph and the hdf.baguio.gov.ph and the city’s approved triage areas is enjoined.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong also signed Memorandum No. 5 Series of 2022 for the new health protocols and safety guidelines while Baguio City is under LGU Alert Level number 3 from January 9 to January 15.

Based on the data of the City Health Services Offices, there are 937 new cases recorded from January 1 to 9 this year, a leap from   the 46 active cases during the last day of 2021.  

Magalong, in a media interview, affirmed that the increasing trend in cases is quite alarming but with the city’s experience in handling the surge caused by Delta variant, the city is on top of the situation as far as case management is concerned.

With the number of new cases expected to continue to rise, he advises the people of Baguio to strictly follow the minimum public health standards and make sure that they use clinical grade face mask and not the cloth mask.

Moreover, as the city’s vaccination program already breached the 100 percent of its target, the Mayor encourages the fully vaccinated people to get their booster shot when already eligible to do so.

The City HSO Baguio as of January 9, 2022 has recorded a total of 30,993 COVID – 19 cases where 927 are active cases, 29,344 recoveries and 722 deaths. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)