August 23, 2020 – Baguio City and La Trinidad town agreed to synchronize efforts in the targeted testing of workers in business establishments that are vulnerable to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Mandatory testing of susceptible workers began last month in the city when Mayor Benjamin Magalong required banks to conduct company-subsidized swab tests among its workers after several employees tested positive for the virus.
The mayor had ordered the same for grocery stores and supermarkets after clustering of cases occurred in one establishment.
Today, Magalong said La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda had informed him of a similar program in the town.
The mayor said synchronization and cooperation in this aspect is crucial as both localities and the whole of BLISTT function in a similar “eco-system” and anything that happens in one locality impacts the others.
“As it is we have lots of employees who are from La Trinidad and the other way around. This fact is evident in our cases where a number are workers in Baguio but are residents of the town. And even if they are not statistically included in our tally, they are still included in our contact tracing because most of their contacts are in Baguio,” the mayor said.
“As neighbors, we have to work together and protect each other,” he added.
Meanwhile, the mayor said the mandatory testing of grocery workers had begun two days ago and had so far discovered three positives out of the164 employees tested. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo
