Baguio to bring back mask mandate amidst rising covid cases

by Nikki Shane Pillejera

Tourists and residents of Baguio City will once again be required to wear face masks especially indoors to curb the rising number of COVID cases, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said on Monday.

In an interview posted by the Baguio City public Information Office, Magalong said that the city was averaging about 13 to 14 COVID-19 cases daily.

"Our forecast is that there will be an increasing trend for the next 3 to 4 weeks," said the mayor.

They suspect that the cases are Arcturus cases, a COVID subvariant originating from India, "kailangan mas maingat tayo ngayon," Magalong reminded the public.

According to Magalong, there will be no restrictions on mobility but minimum health protocols such as wearing face masks, washing hands and avoiding handshakes are to be observed. "Fist bump na lang muna,” he added.

The increase in COVID cases in Baguio started 3 weeks ago, when the cases rose by 12.63 percent according to acting City Health Services Officer Celia Flor Brillantes.

Magalong said that the good news is "karamihan ng cases natin ay mild and doesn't require hospitalization." The hospital utilization rate in Baguio City according to the mayor is only at around 15 percent.

An executive order mandating masks is set to be issued, said the mayor.