Tinglayan heightens health protocols to control spread of Covid-19 Delta variant

Tinglayan, Kalinga – With the presence of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the region, the Local Government of Tinglayan has intensified the observance of safety and health protocols, hoping to control the possible entry and spread of the more transmissible variant in the locality.

“We are strictly implementing the protocols and guidelines of the LGU and province to prevent the possible surge of Delta and other variants in the locality,” Dr. Caren Liw-agan, Tinglayan Municipal Health Officer said on Thursday, August 19, 2021, as cases in the region reached 5, of which 2 were detected in Baguio City and 3 in Apayao.

Relative to this, Liw-agan also appealed to the public to abide by the recently issued Executive Order 2021-29 of Governor Ferdinand Tubban “Providing Guidelines for the Implementation of the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) With Heightened Restrictions Considering the Threat of COVID-19 Variants of Concern in the Province of Kalinga.”

The order covers improved guidelines on gatherings, transport, travel, establishments, and population movement.

All types of non-essential gatherings are prohibited, while gatherings to include the provision of help, government and humanitarian services, wakes and funerals (immediate family members only), and religious gatherings are allowed with 10 percent venue capacity.

For the transport sector, public transportation is allowed, on the condition that they abide by the allowable capacity and safety measures as provided by the Department of Transportation and Communication.

For travels, certain documents shall be presented by travelers depending if they are fully vaccinated or not, while interzonal and intra-zonal travelers who are below 18 years and over 65 are required to present negative RT-PCR results conducted within 72 hours.

Allowed establishments, meantime, shall include personal care services such as salons, beauty parlors, and barbershops may operate up to 30 percent capacity of venue sitting capacity.

Venues for meetings and conferences are allowed at 50 percent capacity. For restaurants, indoor dining shall be at 20 percent capacity, and outdoor dining, at 50 percent capacity.

Establishments, including entertainment venues with live performances, bars, recreational venues, indoor tourist attractions, and gym/fitness centers, are prohibited to open.

Also, the municipality is enforcing strict border control measures through its checkpoint at Barangay Bugnay and appointing Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) to check individuals going into their jurisdictions.

In cases that surge of Delta variant case will be encountered by the municipality, Liw-agan said that Municipal and Barangay Isolation Units are ready to cater to them if exhibiting mild symptoms while for moderate and severe cases, they will be referred to higher facility.

“We don't have hospital dito sa Tinglayan to cater to our patients, so we need the help of the province,” Liw-agan stated.

Tourism activities, she reminded, are still banned in the municipality.

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