MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Baguio City has not noticed a backlog of COVID-19 cases despite the large influx of tourists to the region and the national government allowing the use of optional face masks in ventilated facilities, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said Tuesday.
But then, press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, after all, revealed that the Department of Tourism (DOT) was considering adjusting the mask wearing policy, which made Magalong very happy, as the relaxation of order seemed to have led other people to take extra precautions to avoid COVID-19 transmissions.
(We did not find any significant accumulation or difference even though we accepted the rule for face masks. In fact, as early as September 5, I tried to claim the optional face mask policy in open environment configurations, but unfortunately, I was notified through the Department of Interior and Local Government. )
(And then, the next day, the IATF announced this policy, and then, on September 8, the president did the same. So in fact, the policy satisfies us because, unlike before, when other people were so excited about not wearing a mask in open areas, now that we declare the mask optional outdoors, they are taking extra precautions. )
Meanwhile, Magalong said it wasn’t difficult to promote Baguio from a tourism perspective, noting that they were already reaching 85 percent of their pre-pandemic tourism grades, even as rains fall in the country’s summer capital, often meaning a decline in tourists. Arrivals.
“Hindi mahirap ibenta ang Baguio eh kaya as of today, we are reaching about 85% of our pre-pandemic point in ang nakakatuwa, the last months of August, September mababa yan because they are lean months due to the rainy season,” said the lead executive.
(It is not complicated to announce Baguio to tourists because to date we estimate that we are achieving around 85% of our pre-pandemic level, and what is more encouraging is that in the last months of August and September, the participation of tourism is low since those are lean months due to the rainy season).
(Surprisingly, we recorded many arrivals in August and September. )
During President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘s statewide stopover in Singapore, a country that has already allowed face masks not to be worn in high-risk settings such as hospitals and public transportation, Angeles said the DOT had thought first of easing mask wearing. Use. protocols to attract more tourists.
The Ministry of Health (DOH) first questioned the suggestion, but ultimately sought a compromise. Then, Marcos signed Executive Decree No. 3, which mandates wearing masks outdoors.
READ: Without a mask like SG? DOT plans to leave mask outdoors to attract more tourists
Health experts, however, warned of a higher imaginable number of COVID-19 with the policy, advising the public to continue wearing masks while urging the DOH to administer more boosters to immunize people.
For Baguio, Magalong said Baguio enjoys a higher vaccination rate, but admitted that they are coordinating with the Ministry of Education (DepEd) and private schools so that primary and secondary students receive their reminders, especially face-to-face. -Face categories resume.
Magalong also reminded us that other people wishing to make a stopover in Baguio will need to register on their Baguio Visit website. With the reports of Catherine Dabu, intern INQUIRER. net
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