Baguio sets up defense vs Omicron

Initial assessment and inventory of resources showed the city is prepared in terms of its facilities and logistics including oxygen and medicines

BAGUIO CITY — The local government here on Sunday announced that it is gearing up on strengthening the city’s defense against the newest coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) variant — the Omicron variant — amid its possible entry to the Summer Capital of the Philippines.

This comes after Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong warned that the new variant have the possibilities of ruining Christmas in the city and called for an action plan for the city’s safety.

Magalong disclosed that the Baguio City is preparing ahead of time by ensuring that all its Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate (PDITR) strategies are well in place before any surge begins.

The action plan will take off from the blueprint for Delta variant with improvements and modifications in areas where they are needed depending on the developments.

Baguio City Health officer Dr. Rowena Galpo said the measures will again involve vigilant and proactive regulations over borders and city activities, active surveillance of cases, reinforcement of minimum public health standards and aggressive vaccination.

Meantime, acting City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head Antonette Anaban also said the action plan will focus on the following areas — suppression, reduction of exposure, protection of the vulnerable and reduction of morbidity.

Initial assessment and inventory of resources showed the city is prepared in terms of its facilities and logistics including oxygen and medicines and Galpo said that the isolation units can again serve as staging and step down facilities.

She also pointed out the need to address the previous gaps particularly the patient transport and the monitoring and guiding of patients isolated at home.

Inventories of other needs including personal protective equipment, working out the rehiring of additional health workers and preparations by hospitals and isolation units will be worked out in the coming days.

“Expect a flurry of preparations in the next two months as we continue to assess the situation. We will be watching the developments and the next two weeks will be critical,” Magalong said.

“Omicron is the fifth virus of concern initially found to have an unusually high number of mutations in its spike protein which expert fear could make it more transmissible, resistant to vaccines and capable of causing higher risk of infections,” he added.