Non-essential travel to Baguio City will not be allowed temporarily starting July 31, 2021

The City Government of Baguio, through the office of the City Mayor, has released advisory 07-2021 which provides for the temporary suspension of non-essential travel to Baguio City.

The Delta variant scourge

In the advisory released by the office of the City Mayor. The reason for the temporary suspension of Non-essential travel to Baguio City is due to the presence of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the Philippines. It can be recalled that the Delta variant is seen as the major cause of the spread of COVID-19 and deaths in India, April of this year. This mutation of the SARS-Cov virus is said to be more transmissible and virulent compared to its predecessors.

Delta variant in other countries

The Delta variant has been detected in other countries which are causing the resurgence of COVID-19. A new lockdown mandate has been implemented in Australia to curb the increase of COVID-19 cases brought about by the Delta variant. The Delta variant is also the major cause of spiking number of cases in the United States as well as in other countries with a high rate of vaccination.

Delta variant in the Philippines

The Delta variant was also recently detected in the Philippines with 97 new cases yesterday. The Delta presence of the delta variant in the Philippines prompted the DILG to treat this particular variant as a VOC or Variant-of-Concern. On July 22, 2021, the Department of Health advised the public to avoid unnecessary travels or gatherings. Because of these increasing cases of the delta variant, NCR will go back into Enhanced Community Quarantine on August 6, 2021.

Suspension of non-essential travel in Baguio City

In Baguio City, the suspension of non-essential travel to the city, will take effect on July 31, 2021, and will be observed for 7 days. These 7 days’ suspension of non-essential travel to Baguio is said to give the local government and private sectors to implement protection measures that were planned to combat the delta variant and other variants that may emerge from it.

What are non-essential travels?

Non-essential travels are, but are not limited to the following:

• Travel for Leisure (Tourism)
• Those traveling to attend permitted private social functions
• Those traveling for transactions in the city where physical presence is dispensable or optional.

The City government of Baguio is asking the public for their patience and cooperation and to limit travels outside of Baguio City.

Copy of Advisory 07-2021