COVID-19 quarantine: All classes in Baguio suspended until May 31

STRINGENT MEASURES. Policemen continued to regulate entry into downtown Baguio on Wednesday morning (April 8) and have turned away people not scheduled for food and medical supply runs. The city has recorded 14 patients infected with the coronavirus disease. About 8 of them have since recovered. Photo by Vincent Cabreza

BAGUIO CITY–Classes in all schools and universities of this mountain city will continue to be suspended until May 31, Mayor Benjamin Magalong announced on Maundy Thursday (April 9).

Schools were shut down after Malacañang enforced a Luzon-wide community lockdown as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 through human-to-human transmission. It was supposed to end on Easter Sunday (April 12).

But with the quarantine extended until April 30, community leaders and industries agreed to prolong class suspensions in all learning institutions “as we remain consistent with the remarkable steps being undertaken against COVID-19,” Magalong said.

The city has recorded 14 cases of infection although eight of the patients had already recovered as of Wednesday (April 8). One died on March 19 and had been included on the list of positive cases recently.

But no new COVID-19 case had been recorded in Baguio since March 28, suggesting that the city may be “flattening the curve,” a statistical measure of the infection starting to die down and become manageable.

In sustaining “the stringent measures,” Magalong said residents “should not be complacent and must continue to be vigilant in the face of this emerging disease.”

As of Thursday, four villages have been receiving cash grants from the national government’s social amelioration program.

Magalong said village officials, volunteers and social workers are working throughout the Holy Week to process and complete documentary requirements to speed up the release of the financial aid. A poor household can receive up to P5,500 to help members ride out the last three weeks of the lockdown.

The city government this week began consulting with business and economic leaders to hammer out a “reopening” plan for local industries once the quarantine is lifted, City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña said in a statement. Details of the plan have not been revealed.

Edited by TSB