Baguio City and its neighboring Benguet towns will implement strict border controls anew by Feb. 1 in light of the detection of the Covid-19 UK variant in the Cordillera.
This means medical clearances will be mandatory for residents within Baguio and nearby La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay, all in Benguet. Health declaration forms, which used to be the requirement, will not be honored.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the mayors within the BLISTT have agreed on this in anticipation of the possible escalation of Cordillera’s quarantine classification from modified to general community quarantine.
Malacañang announced on Jan. 29 that the region will be under GCQ from Feb. 1 to 28. The elevation of the region’s quarantine classification is brought about by the continued spike in cases and the detection of the UK variant in 12 cases from Bontoc, Mountain Province and one from La Trinidad.
During this time, residents of Baguio going to the LISTT and residents from the LISTT coming to the city should present a medical clearance stating they do not exhibit symptoms of the Covid-19.
Magalong said there is a need to tighten border checks because a close contact of the case in La Trinidad is a driver of a public utility vehicle.
“We want to be proactive because the close contacts were able to move around,” Magalong said.
As of Jan. 28, Covid-19 cases in the Cordillera reached 11,463 with 1,379 active cases or those admitted to hospitals or isolation facilities and 154 deaths.
Baguio and Benguet remain to have the highest number at 4,904 and 4,095, respectively.
Kalinga logged 1,134 while Mountain Province recorded 700 cases.
Ifugao had 320 cases; Abra, 182; and Apayao, 129.
DOH-Cordillera Director Ruby Constantino has asked local government units to increase their temporary treatment and monitoring facilities to lessen their hospital care utilization rate, which is one of the bases for the escalation of their quarantine classifications. – Jane B. Cadalig
April 20, 2024
