Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Tuesday urged locals to increase their awareness of the need to strictly observe the minimum public health standards as the city’s economy reopened.

“The most effective action that we can take to protect ourselves against Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) and its variants is our compliance to the minimum public health standards,” he said.

“Observing the physical distancing and frequent washing of hands is free or does not cost much,” he added.

He said the city is once again opening its economy and tourism industry due to its current “very manageable Covid-19 situation”.

Based on the report of the city health services office, the city recorded 1,094 Covid-19 cases for the period April 17 to 30, while there were 801 recorded from May 1 to 14, and 428 from May 15 to 28.

“We need to open up our economy. We are hurting, many are going hungry and people are getting depressed,” Magalong said.

The mayor assured, “not anybody’s health and safety will be compromised in the city’s move to open up its economy and tourism industry since certain guidelines and procedures will still be enforced”.

“Frequent washing of hands, proper use of face mask and face shield, and the observance of physical distancing,” are the only protection from not getting the infection even if we are already vaccinated,” Magalong said.

The mayor also advised the public to use medical-grade or surgical masks instead of cloth masks for greater protection from the deadly virus.

He said if one insists on wearing a cloth mask, then this should be paired with a medical-grade face mask for added safety.

The city is the first local government nationwide that opened its doors to tourists applying the model of “slowly, safely and surely”.

As of June 7, the city has recorded 48 new Covid-19 cases with 598 active cases. (PNA)