DUE to the increasing number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, schools in Itogon and dormitories in Baguio City have been eyed as isolation facilities.
Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said Tuesday, November 3, that the local government unit is coordinating with the City Government of Baguio, and Department of Health (DOH) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for the possible use of an isolation facility in the city.
Data from the Municipal Health Office (MHO) showed there are 180 individuals who are undergoing home quarantine.
Palangdan said they are eyeing the Venus Dormitories on T. Alonzo Street as it can house at least 100 individuals.
Palangdan said the MHO is coordinating with the Baguio City Health Services Office for the possible admission of Covid-19 cases from Itogon to the dormitory.
"We are also tapping Atok Gold in Gumatdang but we are waiting for the decision of board of the company. Others such as in Poblacion, we are eyeing for Central Elementary School, Balatoc Elementary School (in Balatoc)," he added.
Palangdan said they are also currently coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd)-CAR for their approval on the use of public schools in the town as isolation facilities.
The mayor said they earlier asked the permission of former DepEd-CAR director May Eclar, who was officially transferred to DepEd-Central Luzon.
Palangdan said individuals who are in home quarantine are in lockdown and advised not to go out of their houses.
In order to prevent them from going out, he added food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development were distributed.
Ten cavans of rice were also delivered on Monday, November 2, to barangay Virac by the Provincial Government of Benguet.
The official said symptomatic patients in the municipality are admitted at the Benguet General Hospital and other hospitals in Baguio City.
Other Covid-19 patients of the town are admitted in Itogon Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility (TTMF), Itogon Suyoc Resources Inc. TTMF, Rural Health Services, Virac TTMF, Benguet Corporation Inc., Itogon District Hospital and the Benguet Provincial TTMF.
The mayor said mining operations of Sangilo Mines of Itogon Suyoc Resources Incorporated (ISRI) and Benguet Corporation stopped.
As of November 2, there are 433 active cases in Itogon out of the 853 active Covid-19 cases in Benguet province.
Itogon has 510 confirmed cases with 73 recovered and four death.