Monday, March 29, 2021

Baguio City Covid cases reach 6,877; tourists from NCR, 4 provinces banned

By Carlito C. Dar

BAGUIO CITY – A total of 6,877 confirmed Covid-19 cases was recorded in this summer capital wherein 714 (10.38 percent) were active cases, 6,046 (87.92 percent) already recovered and 117 (1.70 percent) deaths as of March 21, data of the City Health Services Office bared.
    Due to this, this summer capital is temporarily not accepting leisure travel or tourists from the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal.
    This is in compliance with Inter Agency Task Force on Covid – 19(IATF) resolution 104, Mayor Benjamin Magalong announced  during after flag raising ceremony at city hall grounds  Monday.  
    The temporary ban is effective March 22 to April 4, 2021 but subject to change if there are new recommendation from the IATF, the mayor said.
    As the ban is for leisure travel only, exemption is given to APOR (authorized person outside residences) and those on essential travels such as official government or business travel and medical or hospital appointment in Baguio, but they must register at hdf.baguio.gov.ph.
    Magalong urged public understanding on the city government’s decision to ensure safety in accordance with the IATF resolution, even though the decision will affect the city’s tourism industry as around 70 percent of the Baguio’s visitors come from the said areas.
    In relation to this directive, the City Tourism Office urged Baguio visitors who have approved travel and QTP   to re-schedule their visit by editing their current travel application in their VISITA account.
    Local tourists or travelers from other areas, are still welcome to visit Baguio but must register at visita.baguio.gov.ph. 
    They should have duly approved VISITA QTP code and must present RT – PCR negative result (issued within the last 72 hours) or they can avail of antigen test (for a fee of P500) upon arrival at the Central Triage Area.
    Meantime, Magalong urged local folks to strictly adhere to health and safety protocols to protect themselves and their families, especially those frequently going out of their homes, either for work or essential travel, as increase in new confirmed cases were recorded in Baguio, mostly due to contact tracing and expanded testing under initiative of the city government. – PIA Cordillera

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