THE elderly has been asked to stay at home.

Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong, in an Executive Order on Tuesday, November 17, ordered senior citizens to stay at home until November 27.

The order stated that the implementation of strict stay-at-home restrictions for persons over the age of 65 is in effect. It advised the elderly to go out only when necessary "for purposes of work, to seek medical attention, or when they have no other non-high-risk relatives or acquaintances to assist them in acquiring necessary goods or basic services."

Magalong said since November 1, there have been 44 senior citizens who have fallen ill from Covid-19, forcing him to implement the stay at home order in a bid to protect the elderly from getting sick.

"This has become a pressing concern as persons of this age group are most at risk of the effects of Covid-19 and a higher degree of medical attention is required for their care and recovery," Magalong said.

He added that non-work-related social gatherings and activities for persons over the age of 65 are suspended and tasked the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (Osca) to be closed for activities and physical or walk-in transactions during stay at home period.

The mayor, however, said that a skeleton workforce will report for duty to address any and all immediate concerns and queries.

He said the City Government respects and recognizes the need and desire of senior citizens to leave the confines of their homes but implemented the order for safety.

Baguio, as of November 17, has 540 active cases with 37 deaths and 2,208 recoveries.

As of November 16, Baguio's total Covid-19 cases has reached 2,785.