As a precaution against the Covid-19 Delta variant, Benguet now requires non-residents to show a negative RT-PCR result or full vaccination card when crossing its border checkpoints.
In an advisory dated Aug. 4, Gov. Melchor Diclas said those without RT-PCR results or full vaccination cards are required to undergo triage at the designated areas to be assisted by the police.
Diclas also said all confirmed Covid-19 positive cases, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, shall be quarantined at the nearest designated facility or at the temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs) in their municipalities.
He required the 13 municipalities to draft their respective travel advisories.
“Border checkpoints will still operate for proper travel monitoring of people coming in and out of the province,” Diclas said.
During the provincial Inter-Agency Task Force meeting on Aug. 3, the IATF reiterated the continuous implementation and observance of the minimum public health standards, which include physical distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and wearing of face mask and shield.
The IATF also urged the public to coordinate gatherings during wakes and funerals with the local government units concerned. Wakes will be limited to four days including the burial day. The first day of the wake shall be limited to immediate family members only.
Benguet General Hospital Chief Meliarazon Dulay, who is a member of the provincial health board, said the hospital has reactivated the isolation facilities that have not been used for sometime due to the lowered cases of Covid-19 as part of the preparations against the Delta variant.
She said the TTMF of the province is open to municipalities that lack isolation facilities.
BeGH has also acquired more oxygen tanks for Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients.
Dulay said suppliers lent 200 additional tanks to the hospital to cover its requirement.
“We are using maximum of 160 tanks per day and we are willing to have a memorandum of agreement with suppliers for consignment so that our oxygen supply will be enough. The hospital shells out much for the oxygen cost and we depend on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation payment and financial assistance in order for us to have funds for payment of oxygen refill,” Dulay said. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 20, 2024
