GRADUAL OPENING Baguio City is awaiting the gradual reopening of its tourist sites, such as the popular Burnham Park, to revive local businesses crippled by the six-month tourism slump due to the coronavirus pandemic. —EV ESPIRITU
BAGUIO CITY, Benguet, Philippines — Resuming the city’s economic activities, including tourism, would help ease the social and mental strain suffered by residents who lost jobs and who remained stuck indoor during the quarantine, according to local officials.
Dr. Rowena Galpo, city health officer, said health-care workers would not stand in the way of reviving the economy if it would not contribute to the rise in new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
“Technically, more movement and the entry into Baguio of people can increase coronavirus transmission,” Galpo said. But she said the surge in cases could no longer be blamed solely on people entering the city.
Citing government data, Galpo said 85 percent of people who contracted the virus since the Luzon lockdown in March had no history of travel outside Baguio, she said.The number of cases accelerated to 284, with most of these occurring in clusters from the end of July to the middle of August.
Suicide cases
Coinciding with the increase in contamination are suicide cases now totaling 14, according to Dr. Donnabel Tubera-Panes, the city’s infectious disease specialist.
Although she did not attribute the reported suicides to the lockdown, Panes said mental anxieties were key concerns which could be dealt with by reopening the economy and allowing people access to the city parks.
Last week, Aloysius Mapalo, city tourism officer, discussed plans to allow residents limited time to visit parks to help relieve their mental stress.
Baguio may again let pedestrians use its main streets in the downtown area on Sunday, but with strict guidelines.
The city government also plans to resume the night market, a crowd-drawer, although it may move it to a more controlled location.
—Vincent Cabreza