Baguio city hall closed for disinfection

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The city government of Baguio yesterday shut down the city hall for disinfection after three employees tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

The employees were among the 16 cases added to the list of the city’s COVID infections on Tuesday night, prompting Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong to close the city hall until tomorrow.

Magalong also shuttered the PFVR Gym where the three employees are assigned to process and issue travel documents.

“The closing of the city hall is a precautionary measure and only a limited number of the workers are allowed to ensure continuity of operations,” Magalong said in an advisory.

He said contact tracing is underway and people who visited the PFVR Gym and city hall from July 29 to present are advised to go on quarantine or seek medical attention should they feel any symptom of the disease.

On Monday, the city recorded the highest number of cases in a single day at 16.

Magalong appealed to residents to avoid unnecessary travel for the next two weeks to prevent further spread of the virus.

With the new infections, Baguio has 79 active COVID cases or a total of 144.

Baguio accounted for three of the four COVID deaths in the Cordilleras.

Meanwhile, in Rizal, three barangay halls in Antipolo City were locked down after some employees tested positive for COVID.

The villages of San Isidro, San Roque and Mambugan advised residents applying for clearances to return on Monday.

Services for rescue and ambulance, peace and order, sanitation and health will continue, the village chairmen said.

On Tuesday, Antipolo recorded 19 new COVID cases, bringing the total number to 759.