Baguio City reimposing mandatory face mask rule
File photo taken in 2022 shows tourists and locals along a vehicle- free Session Road on Sunday in Baguio City. (EV ESPIRITU)
MANILA, Philippines — Face masks will again be mandatory in Baguio City, especially in indoor settings due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases, Mayor Benjamin Magalong announced on Monday.
“Kaya dito ipapatupad na uli natin (We will now enforce again) … especially indoors, we are now requiring our constituents and visitors to be wearing their face masks,” Magalong said in an interview posted in the Baguio City Public Information Office’s Facebook page.
WATCH | Mayor Benjamin Magalong is expected to issue an executive order requiring the mandatory use of facemask, especially in indoor settings, today, May 15, 2023, as the number of COVID-19 cases in the city increases. The mayor urges everyone to complete their vaccination in order to stay protected against COVID-19. Residents and visitors are also advised to continue to practice minimum public health standards such as wearing of facemask, avoiding handshakes, and regular washing of hands. – AUB
Posted by Baguio City Public Information Office on Sunday, May 14, 2023
Magalong said the executive order requiring the mandatory use of face masks is expected to be released on Monday.
“This is one way of mitigating, hopefully we are able to reduce the number of cases,” he added.
Magalong said the COVID-19’s reproduction number of the city is “above one.”
The reproduction number (r-naught) indicates how infectious a disease is. For instance, an r-naught of 1 means that each carrier can transmit the virus to one person, and an r-naught of above one means that each existing infection would cause more than one new infection.
Latest available data from the local government said that Baguio City recorded 46,363 COVID-19 cases as of May 11. This includes 68 active cases, 45,390 recoveries and 905 deaths.
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