By JJ Landingin BAGUIO CITY - In an effort to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), non-essential travelers to this city, including Baguio residents who have been stranded in other provinces, except Benguet, will no longer be allowed to enter this city, according to the Baguio City government. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong (Photo from Benjie Magalong - Public Servant / Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) City Mayor Benjamin Magalong issued the order Friday as a measure to prevent the spread of (COVID-19). The ban will be effective for the next two weeks, and will not include deliveries of food, medicines and other essential items. It could be noted that most of the city’s confirmed COVID-19 cases were residents who had history of travel to infected areas. According to Magalong, with the restriction order, Baguio was trying to “stay ahead of the curve”. "We are escalating our ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) status, and will no longer allow Baguio residents who were stranded in other provinces (except Benguet) to enter the City in the next two weeks. During our meeting this afternoon (March 27), I learned from health officials that we don't have any local transmission. With this information, an opportunity is present to fasttrack our healing process by closing our borders in the next two weeks to non-essential travels, except food and other essential item deliveries and cargoes. I ask for your cooperation and understanding," said Magalong in a briefing with Baguio health professionals and frontliners.