BAGUIO CITY – Seventeen persons, including five minors in one community were afflicted with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after reportedly getting the disease from one of their contacts.
The city logged the highest number of 20 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, Sept.15 , 17 of whom were contacts of current cases through contact tracing (CT).Three patients recovered on that day.
City Information Officer Aileen Refuerzo said that of the 17 close contacts, 11 belong to one cluster of cases in Barangay Sto Nino Slaughter compound, reside in one house and community, and share the same surname which started with the five patients diagnosed on September 14. All of them were contacts of one patient diagnosed last Sept.13.
“The situation of the cluster was found out by the contact tracing team because all of the contacts were tested.” Refuerzo said.
On Wednesday, the 11 close contacts who tested positive for COVID-19 include four minors -- a 2-month-old male, 2-year-old female, 4-year-old female, and 12-year-old female. A 9-year-old female and four others tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept.14.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong appealed to residents to ensure the cleanliness of their homes and surroundings apart from observing personal health and safety protocols. “ We are now seeing the spread of cases in households.”
Magalong said unsanitary living conditions and dirty surroundings also pose health risks and contribute to the spread of the virus.
He advised families "to be mindful of health standards and protocols when outside and inside their homes.
"When at home, wash your hands and change your clothes before you spend time with your family. Disinfect your door knobs and other frequently touched surfaces in the home. Avoid sharing utensils and monitor each other for flu-like symptoms," he added.
Magalong assured that the city's anti-COVID-19 systems on prevention, detection, control, and treatment are in place and will be adjusted or improved as needed.
Baguio City has a total of 483 confirmed cases, 121 of which are active, 351 recoveries, and 11 deaths.