WITH the increase in the number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in Baguio City, local government units of Mankayan and Itogon in Benguet have asked residents to limit unnecessary travel in the summer capital.
"Mankayan residents are strongly discouraged traveling to Baguio City and areas outside Benguet that have surging Covid-19 cases," Mankayan Mayor Frenzel Ayong said in an advisory.
Ayong asked residents in the town who need to travel in Baguio City to strictly observe basic health protocols, such as wearing of mask, social distancing, avoiding crowded places, handwashing.
He said Baguio City has a sudden increase, with 12 positive cases on July 25 and 15 on July 26.
La Trinidad, meanwhile, has five positive cases on July 25 and one on July 26. It has eight active cases now.
On Tuesday, July 28, Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan urged the public to stay home and limit unnecessary travel in the city.
"Outside our residence, we are expected to follow basic health protocols: wearing of face masks, physical distancing, and frequent disinfection. By doing so, we are preventing the spread of the virus," said Palangdan, who is also the president of League of Mayors in Benguet.
On Monday, July 27, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered the lockdown of barangays and stricter border control with essential and necessary travel allowed, re-implementation of Sunday lockdown, re-imposition of liquor ban effective July 27, closure of the Baguio City Public Market every Sunday for disinfection, with personnel of banks to undergo RT-PCR test at their own expense, and for all establishments to ensure that all toilets be disinfected two to three times per week.