BAGUIO CITY: The mayor here underscored the need to mask up, using a cloth face mask to further secure a surgical face mask underneath it, as well as the need to maintain physical distancing, handwashing, coughing etiquette, ventilating properly, shying from crowds, avoiding confined spaces, limiting close proximity conversations, sanitizing touched surfaces and vaccinating.

On Aug. 16, 2021, Mayor Benjamin Magalong appealed to the public to wear two masks instead of the usual single mask as an additional precaution against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on top of observing the abovementioned minimum public health standards amid an increase in Covid-19 cases and the detection of two Delta variant cases in the Summer Capital.

Last Monday, the mayor said back tracing conducted on the first detected Delta variant case points to the probability that the variant may have been in the city since July.

However, further investigation by the lead contact-tracing team showed that the first infection may have occurred as early as June.

'If we look at the various circumstances, we may have had the Delta infection much earlier than the date of detection, and it is a matter of serious concern,' the mayor said.

'So, we would like everyone to strictly observe the minimum public health standards at all times. This is serious, and we don't like to lie [to] you,' the mayor added.

Earlier, Magalong urged the safeguarding of children who were further prone to the more infectious variant as now evidenced in some parts of the country.

He said households, especially those with members exhibiting symptoms, should also implement safety measures such as disinfection, physical distancing and quarantine within the premises.

Adults should avail of vaccination once vaccines become available because it will not only to protect themselves, but also their children who were still uninoculated, he added.