LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government decided to temporarily close the operation of a number of its isolation units following the continuous decline in the town’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases over the past several weeks for the local government to save on cost.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda reported the isolation centers that were closed are the Strawberry Hotel and the senior citizens building located at the heart of the valley.
However, he disclosed that these could still be opened in case there will be another surge in cases that require their operations to cater to the quarantine and isolation requirements of COVID-19 patients.
At present, the municipal chief executive reported that the management of the Strawberry Hotel is now accepting reservations for accommodation purposes for domestic visitors while the senior citizens center is now being used by the elderly for the conduct of their various activities.
According to him, individuals required by health experts to undergo isolation are referred to the municipal government’s isolation unit in a private compound in Longlong, Puguis while the 45-bed isolation in the area will be ready anytime to be opened to serve the isolation needs of confirmed COVID-19 patients from the municipality.
While there has been a consistent decrease in the number of daily COVID-19 cases being recorded in the municipality, Mayor Salda urged that residents must still strictly comply with the minimum public health standards to prevent infection that might cause another surge in cases.
The mayor added that law enforcers will strictly enforce the compliance of the people to the policy on the mandatory wearing of face masks although the inter-agency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases already relaxed the guidelines on the wearing of face shields.
La Trinidad has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the province since the start of the pandemic over 20 months ago but it was able to effectively and efficiently handle the situation that prevented the local health care system from being compromised and the frontliners from being unduly stressed despite the surge in cases that was triggered by the more infectious Delta variant.
He sought the continuous support of the public in their adherence to the minimum public health standards so that the ongoing gradual and safe revival of the local economy can gain ground and the heavily impacted sectors able to bring back the vibrancy of their respective economic activities. By HENT
