Baguio restricts visitors, studes, reviewees, folks

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY -- With rising Covid-19 cases, especially the highly transmissible Delta variant, additional restrictions were issued for students or those enrolled in educational, instructional, training institution with permitted face-to-face classes here.
    The controls were issued after a meeting and in agreement with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
    Executive assistant lawyer Althea Alberto represented Mayor Benjamin Magalong in the meeting done earlier.
    This was also reported during the management committee meeting earlier with the executives present.
     It was agreed there will be temporary suspension of face-to-face classes, except for third and fourth year students and only those with laboratory work, clinic/hospital duty and internship.
    There is a need for face-to-face interaction and practical learnings and instructions in said cases, it was clarified.     
     According to Alberto, minimum public health standards (MPHS) such as the use of face mask, shield, personal protective equipment (PPE) in medical cases, the regular hand sanitation, and social distancing should be practiced within the campus.
Said MPHS applies to personnel, faculty, security, students, visitors and other workers to ensure everyone’s protection and safety.
     Contact training, isolation, quarantine and reporting also apply within the campus, with designated officials to undertake said health protocols    
     Alberto added education or training sites shall be inspected by the City Health Services Office personnel for air change per hour (ACH), as to ventilation and air circulation.
    This is to ensure no transmission happens due to poor air circulation, which increases the probability of Covid-19 transmission.
     Wearing of double masks shall also be ordered as said practice deters virus transmission.
     Unvaccinated HEI and CHED personnel shall also be included in immunization activities after a survey.
    There is a need to facilitate said activity as, if plans push through, second semester is set to open in October, it was known.               
    As to board examinations conducted in the city, a schedule was requested from the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) for the monitoring of examinees coming in for said activity.
    Examinees and personnel involved in all activities need to observe strict MPHS under PRC memorandum 86, 2020; for observation during the conduct of Licensure Examination during the pandemic.
     Only medical and allied courses are allowed to conduct face-to-face activities, it was known. Reviewees are instructed to wear double masks, not to loiter around and go home directly after the board exams.
     Meanwhile, review centers need to adhere to MPHS and are included in the Safety Seal Team Inspection conducted by a composite team headed by the Permits and Licensing Division (PLD). Inspection and monitoring is done regularly, even during night time and weekends.
     Students and reviewees need to follow entry requirements to the city, registration with hdf.baguio.gov.ph present vaccination card; or present negative result of RT-PCR or saliva test. Travelers are considered completely vaccinated 14 days after the second dose, or 14 days after the one-dose J and J vaccine.        

 As of date, only essential travel, including that for educational purposes is allowed, and travel for leisure is still suspended.