Magalong Suddenly Changes Heart On Reimposition Of Liquor Ban

September 21, 2020 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (September 21, 2020) – In a sudden turn of events, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong will not re-impose the temporary ban on selling liquor.

The supposed decision to reimpose the liquor ban effective Monday stemmed from findings that one of the causes of the proliferation of COVID-19 cases at the Slaughterhouse area here was the uncontrolled drinking sprees.

“It seems that we never learned from our past experience on the dangers posed by overindulging in alcohol. When we indulge, we do not anymore care about the health protocols so things lead to serious consequences like this clustering of cases that we now have in that area,” Magalong said.

In a sudden change of heart, Magalong will not anymore order a third liquor ban, though sternly reminded the observance of health protocols and to strictly follow the “no sharing of shot glass and utensils” rule.

A total of 38 cases have so far been recorded at the Slaughter area, occupied mostly by abattoir workers. “It is alarming considering how delicate their job is,” the mayor noted.

Magalong ordered the intensification of all COVI19 control systems to contend with the expected surge in cases as a result of aggressive contact tracing and expanded testing here.

Of the 43 new patients reported Sunday, 33 are contacts of current cases (CT), eight symptomatic (S), two from expanded testing (ET).

A review of the processes and systems being implemented in the abattoir is also being considered to identify and correct the gaps in health protocols.

The same order was implemented at the other problematic site, the lagoon area at Lourdes Ext. to expedite thorough cleansing, disinfection and tracking down of more contacts.

Magalong had ordered the hard lockdown of Slaughter and Lagoon area Sunday morning for 14 days. The City Social Welfare Office will be providing food to around 50 families.

More teams were deployed to address the increase in cases by implementing contact tracing, disinfection, isolation, quarantine, testing and medical interventions especially in the coming days when results of the expanded testing conducted Sept. 17 and 19 are expected to be known.

-Artemio A. Dumlao