BAGUIO CITY – With the increase in tourist arrivals as Christmas nears, Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Thursday reminded anew residents and tourists that the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) remains a threat so there is the need to continue observing the minimum public health standards.
“We still have the pandemic so we still have to be conscious of our protocols –wearing of masks, especially in congested areas, indoors and at the same time, we want you to enjoy,” Magalong said in a media interview.
Baguio remains under a low-risk category of Covid-19 despite a spike in tourist arrivals.
The city health officials also reported a decrease in the positivity rate during the past two weeks from 17 percent to 14.17 percent, a decline of the average daily attack rate from 4.3 to 3.6 per 100,000 population with an average reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests of 117 to 119 per day.
“We would like to remind our constituents, this will be a busy holiday season, especially since a lot of tourists will be in Baguio na gustong makita ang Baguio habang pinapaganda natin ang ating syudad (who want to see Baguio as we are improving and making it beautiful),” Magalong said.
The city tourism office recorded about 25,000 to 40,000 tourists weekly, most of them arriving on weekends.
“We're creating a better Baguio so expect our tourists, the traffic, expect convergence in our malls, the market and also crowding,” Magalong said.
He also urged those who have yet to receive the Covid-19 vaccine to have themselves protected from the adverse effect of the virus if infected. (PNA)