HEALTH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III has expressed alarm over circulating photos and reports of crowding during the Feast of the Black Nazarene at Quiapo church on Saturday.
The Department of Health (DOH) also called on those who attended the event — though without the traditional Traslacion or procession usually drawing millions of devotees — to minimize interactions, especially with vulnerable members of their household, and to conduct active self-monitoring for any symptoms.
Duque reiterated his reminder for anyone who experiences symptoms of Covid-19, especially devotees who physically went to Quiapo, to immediately coordinate with their respective Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERT) for appropriate management and referral.
The DOH also urged respective local government units to coordinate with Quiapo Church to secure the list of attending devotees, and to actively monitor their constituents who participated in the event so that possible Covid-19 cases may be easily detected and transmission is limited.
Duque said that DOH immediately coordinated with Manila City Hall after seeing the photos and videos.
According to the city government, photos of people flocking were circulating early Saturday morning, but authorities were quick to disperse them and ensure strict implementation of physical distancing –in the area from outside of Quiapo church up until España Boulevard and other roads.
Duque and the DOH reiterated the call for devotees to opt for the virtual masses and refrain from physically visiting Quiapo. Church authorities had announced Mass will be celebrated in several other churches, in a bid to disperse the crowd, and urged the faithful to attend the rites nearest their place, either physically or, more ideally, through the online mass.
On Saturday Covid-19 cases in the country rose to 485, 797.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes
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