Baguio to implement COVID-19 checkpoints starting Sunday

Baguio City would implement checkpoints starting Sunday amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Baguio City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office confirmed Saturday.

According to an advisory, checkpoints would be set up in all access roads, composed of the three main highways and three bypass roads, at 7 a.m. on Sunday.

Travelers, both in public and private vehicles, must present pre-filled out forms indicating their names, addresses, contact numbers, date and time of travel, seat number, and bus numbers.

They would also be thermal scanned "as part of the heightened prevention and response measures against the COVID-19 menace."

Baguio City would also be implementing a strict curfew, according to an advisory.

Under Memorandum 23, the Baguio City Police Office would impose a curfew on minors in the city between 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Students were also advised to stay home due to the suspension of classes.

According to the memorandum, authorities would patrolmalls, movie houses, markets, bars, and other crowded place, and students caught in these locations would be immediately sent home.

"This is praying that all of us will participate and cooperate with the measures being taken to limit the risk of exposure of our people and keep Baguio City COVID-19 free," the advisory read.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines rose to 111 on Saturday with eight recorded fatalities. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News