Baguio City declares community quarantine

Mayor Benjamin Magalong has declared Baguio City under citywide community quarantine from March 16 to April 15 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the city.

Mayor Magalong signed Executive Order No. 065-20 today, March 16, 2020, after meeting with the city council led by Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan to craft the guideline for the month-long community quarantine.

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The Mayor said the quarantine would not mean a lockdown as people’s movement will not be totally restricted. Still, mechanisms will be put in place to tighten preventive, control, and response measures, among which the requirement for health declaration forms to facilitate contact tracing when the situation calls for it.

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Baguio City declares community quarantine

During the quarantine, more aggressive checkpoints and a curfew will be imposed. Suspension of classes was also extended until April 15. The operation hours of commercials establishments in the city will be shortened.

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Baguio City earlier announced it would close some of its top tourist spots for 14 days as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. Among closed parks are Burnham Park, Botanical Garden, Dominican Lourdes Grotto, Children Park, and Mines View.

“Burnham park will be open for strolling only, but all concessioners were directed to suspend their businesses, while the city market is open, but it will be subjected for daily disinfection,” Magalong clarified.

The Mayor also canceled all Panagbenga Festival activities as soon as the number of coronavirus cases in the Philippines started to increase.

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As of today, the Summer Capital is still COVID-19 free, according to Mayor Magalong.