Mandatory isolation of returning OFWs, OFs urged

City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) chief Antonette Anaban is recommending the mandatory isolation of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Overseas Filipinos (Ofs) as part of the Summer Capital’s contingency plan against the Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) Omicron variant.

She made the recommendation during the regular management committee meeting, December 6, of local officials led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong. 

To suppress transmission;  reduce exposure; protect the vulnerable; reduce mortality and morbidity from all causes, and save lives are the contingency plan’s four goals, Anaban said.

She also advises that the city government extend its contract with Teachers Camp as an additional isolation facility and repair of the Baguio City Community Isolation Unit (BCCIU)  including the constant monitoring of isolation facilities’ occupancy rate.

These activities are under the plan’s mandatory facility-based isolation/quarantine priority area with the Office of Workers Welfare Administration and the Health Services Office as the lead agencies, Anaban said.

The plan’s other priority areas are ramp up vaccination of priority groups; stricter border control; continue granular lockdowns; monitoring of critical supplies and equipment; strict monitoring of compliance with minimum public health standards; activation of contingency plans of hospitals including their accordion policy. 

Also, to strengthen risk communication; restrictions of unvaccinated individuals in their homes unless with valid reasons; patient transport service; regulate mass/social gatherings; contact tracing; emergency hiring of health workers; tourism events; triage resources; and Covid-19 appropriation, Anaban said. – Gaby B. Keith