The City Government of Baguio is appropriating 400 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) test kits for market vendors.
This is part of the city’s aggressive efforts to curb further spread of Covid-19.
Mayor Benjie Magalong said the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test kits were part of the 3,000-test kits then given by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
The donation was for a mass testing program at the Baguio Convention Center (BCC) involving workers identified by the health authorities as “high risk” in acquiring the deadly disease.
Last September, residents from Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) local government chain trooped to BCC to avail of the 3-day free testing made possible by the efforts of BCDA president Vince Dizon.
Malacañang named Dizon as Covid-19 “testing czar”.
The mayor said only 2,600-kits were used at the BCC.
Meantime, the mayor tasked the City Health Services Office (CHSO) to test select vendors stationed at city market. Evaluation of results in the area will then guide the city in what measures to take next in order to protect the buying public.
In recent days, there was a surge of Covid-19 cases in some barangays.
Allaying fears, the mayor assured his constituents that tests, contact tracing and containment of cases are in full swing.
He said immediate health interventions are extended to those yielding positive Covid-19 results, with their close contacts being faithfully monitored.
He however warned the city is expecting to expose more cases in the coming days due to its aggressive mass testing efforts, adding residents should, more than ever, observe minimum health standards to protect themselves and their families from the disease.
(Dexter A. See, photo courtesy by OIC Joe Manzano, RPN DZBS Baguio)
