BAGUIO CITY – Regional health authorities highlighted recommendable and commendable efforts of the Baguio City government in its ongoing preventive measures in the fight against the dreaded Corona Virus Disease (COVID) 2019 which could be replicated in other places around the country.
In her presentation during the recently-concluded Kasama sa Pamana regional pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) series held at the Baguio Convention Center, DOH-CAR assistant regional director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan reported that one of the city government’s best practices in its anti-COVID response is the reported regular disinfection of major roads, alleys and pathways in the different parts of the city.
Further, she claimed that the city also embarked on the ultra-violet light disinfection at all times in the city’s temporary treatment and monitoring facilities and health facilities.
The DOH-CAR official also lauded the ongoing efforts of the city government to impose cashless transactions in public utility vehicles (PUVs) and other ready establishments to help in minimizing the spread of the virus among the populace.
According to her, the city government also passed an ordinance mandating the wearing of face masks and face shields and the observance of physical distancing in public places, such as in the public market and parks, to ensure that people will be spared from contracting the virus.
Pangilinan disclosed that the implementation of a centralised triage now based at the Baguio Convention Center premises for people wanting to enter the city is also one of the established measures to ensure that individuals do not possess the symptoms of the virus, thus, they will be free to conduct their business in the city.
She urged other local governments to adopt the proven best practices of the city to help in containing the possible spread of the virus and such similar surges of cases in the future and to guarantee that their constituents will be spared from the said.
Pangilinan assured local governments that the agency will continue to provide the logistics for the health facilities and the different isolation units to ensure their readiness in catering to the needs of suspected and positive COVID patients required by health experts to undergo quarantine or isolation.
The medical officer underscored that the agency remains steadfast in providing the people with up-to-date information on the status of the deadly virus through the various platforms for them to be reminded on the need to comply with the prescribed minimum public health standards beneficial in ensuring the health and safety of the people.
At present, Apayao, Benguet and Ifugao have been classified under the Modified Enhanced Community (MECQ) up to June 15, 2021 while Baguio, Abra, Kalinga and Mountain Province will remain under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) up to the end of the month to ensure that the possible surges in the number of COVID cases will be contained.
By Dexter A. See
