HEEDING the call of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and responding to the alarming surge of Covid-19 cases in Itogon, Benguet, the local government unit restricted the entry and exit of residents.

Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said Monday, November 2, that Magalong has recommended the restriction of Itogon residents entering Baguio and the same with Baguio residents entering Itogon.

"This will prevent the further spread of the virus," Palangdan said.

The temporary restriction will be implemented starting noon of Wednesday, November 3, to November 15.

Exempted from the restriction are authorized persons outside residence (Apors), but they must still present required documents such as valid government ID providing address in Itogon.

Apors must also present proof of employment or business in Baguio City, company ID, certificate of employment, business permit and medical certificate issued by the Municipal Health Office of Itogon stating the worker is neither a suspect case of Covid-19 and he did not exhibit flu-like symptoms in the past seven days.

In case the worker does not have a medical certificate, he will be directed to Baguio City Triage Unit for proper assessment, Palangdan added.

The chief executive said that for persons who need medical attention, valid ID and doctor's referral slip and confirmation of medical appointment must be presented.

On November 1, Benguet recorded its highest number of Covid-19 confirmed cases in a single day with 193, half of it from Itogon.

The province, as of Monday, has 867 active cases with 1,416 total confirmed, surpassing the active cases of Baguio City, with 535 recoveries and 14 deaths in Benguet.

Itogon, as of November 1, reported that there are 512 total confirmed cases, 426 active cases and 159 new cases.

Data from the Itogon Municipal Health Office revealed the confirmed cases are currently admitted in Itogon Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility, ISRI TTMF, Virac TTMF, Rural Health Services, Itogon District Hospital, Benguet Corp. Inc., Provincial TTMF, while 180 persons are in home quarantine while waiting for isolation.

Palangdan said out of the 974 tested by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), 149 tested positive for the virus.

"They are employees of Benguet Corp plus their close contacts (family members and neighbors). Adding to our new cases are close contacts of confirmed cases in (4) Philex, Ampucao, (1) Poblacion, (1) Loacan, (2) Ucab, and (1) isolated case in Tuding. These totals to 512 confirmed cases in our municipality. Meanwhile, nine individuals from Poblacion recovered," he added.

Sitios Purok II, Supang, Suyo, Beda, Lucbuban, all in Barangay Poblacion; Sitios Letbek, Anuvang, Bagueng in Tinongdan; and Sitio Acupan and Balatoc in Virac are still on lockdown.

Over the weekend, a 60-year-old resident of Barangay Daklan, Bokod died, the first Covid-related death recorded in the town and the 14th death in the province.

She also had other medical conditions aside from testing positive for the virus.