BAGUIO CITY – With the reopening of this city just two days away, 43 new cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was recorded by city health authorities on Sunday, September 20, prompting Mayor Benjamin Magalong to impose a liquor ban anew.
Magalong ordered the intensification of all COVID-19 control systems to contend with the expected surge in cases as a result of aggressive contact tracing and expanded testing activities.
Accounting for the new cases were 33 contacts of current cases, eight symptomatic cases, and two from expanding testing. Seven recoveries were also reported on Sunday.
Of the new cases, 11 were from the Barangay Sto Nino -Slaughterhouse area which now a total of 38 cases. They were listed due to aggressive contact tracing, and belonged to a single cluster of cases who resided in one house and community. Infection reportedly started after five patients were diagnosed with the viral disease on September 11 to 18.
Eight new patients from contact tracing were listed at Barangay Ferdinand (Happy Homes-Campo Sioco).
Magalong immediately impose expanded lockdown in Purok Ayala B and Divisoria, and provisional lockdown in Barangay Sto Nino.
A review of the processes and systems being implemented in the abattoir was also being considered to identify and correct the gaps in health protocols.
He said the same order was implemented at the lagoon area in Barangay Lourdes Extention to expedite thorough cleansing, disinfection and tracking down of more contacts.
"I already ordered the hard lockdown of the slaughter and lagoon area this morning for 14 days.”
Magalong ordered city social welfare to provides food to around 50 families. “The barangays have been duly informed and are enthusiastically cooperating," he said.
Magalong also announced the re-imposition of a liquor ban effective September 21, after investigation showed one of the causes of the proliferation of COVID-19 cases at the slaughterhouse area was the uncontrolled drinking sprees engaged in by residents.
"It seems that we never learned from our past experience on the dangers posed by overindulging in alcohol. When we indulge, we do not anymore care about the health protocols so things lead to serious consequences like this clustering of cases that we now have in that area," Magalong said.
He said a total of 38 cases have so far been recorded in the site occupied mostly by abattoir workers. "It is alarming considering how delicate their job is," he noted.