Taxi driver is 37th confirmed COVID-19 case in Baguio
Published Jun 12, 2020 12:00 am
By Zaldy Comanda
BAGUIO CITY --- Mayor Benjamin Magalong reported the city's 37th confirmed COVID-19 case on Friday (June 12) after a 60-year old taxi driver who among the public utility vehicle drivers tested at the Baguio Convention Center last June 9 turned out to be positive for the coronavirus.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong
(JJ Landingin / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Magalong said Wilfredo Acosta of Barangay Honeymoon-Holyghost volunteered to join the coronavirus disease risk-based testing activity at the Baguio Convention Center to comply with the requirement needed for him to return to his livelihood. Magalong immediately issued a memorandum for the implementation of lockdown over the barangay in order to facilitate complete and efficient contact tracing to ensure the safety and security of persons who may have come into contact with this new confirmed case. He said Acosta did not not expect his swab or the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result to turn out positive as he had no COVID-19 symptoms, no travel outside the city, and no known contact with an infected person. Acosta accepted the outcome and immediately agreed to disclose his identity to facilitate the tracing of his contacts, saying it is necessary to prevent the spread of the disease. He said he had three driving stints on May 28, June 7, and June 11. The unit he was driving was equipped with the required safety measures including a plastic barrier, disinfectants, and a manifesto listing his passengers. The passenger log was submitted to the city's contact tracing team whose members will take charge of reaching out to the passengers. On June 10, Acosta went to buy food at a grocery store in their barangay, wearing a mask and following distancing rules. He asked people he came in contact with to get in touch with the nearest health center for monitoring and medical attention. As of 5 p.m on Friday, Baguio City has four active cases of COVID-19, 32 recoveries, and one death.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong(JJ Landingin / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Magalong said Wilfredo Acosta of Barangay Honeymoon-Holyghost volunteered to join the coronavirus disease risk-based testing activity at the Baguio Convention Center to comply with the requirement needed for him to return to his livelihood. Magalong immediately issued a memorandum for the implementation of lockdown over the barangay in order to facilitate complete and efficient contact tracing to ensure the safety and security of persons who may have come into contact with this new confirmed case. He said Acosta did not not expect his swab or the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result to turn out positive as he had no COVID-19 symptoms, no travel outside the city, and no known contact with an infected person. Acosta accepted the outcome and immediately agreed to disclose his identity to facilitate the tracing of his contacts, saying it is necessary to prevent the spread of the disease. He said he had three driving stints on May 28, June 7, and June 11. The unit he was driving was equipped with the required safety measures including a plastic barrier, disinfectants, and a manifesto listing his passengers. The passenger log was submitted to the city's contact tracing team whose members will take charge of reaching out to the passengers. On June 10, Acosta went to buy food at a grocery store in their barangay, wearing a mask and following distancing rules. He asked people he came in contact with to get in touch with the nearest health center for monitoring and medical attention. As of 5 p.m on Friday, Baguio City has four active cases of COVID-19, 32 recoveries, and one death.