Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)— Crucifixion reenactment activities in San Fernando City, Pampanga have been called off this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, local authorities said Tuesday.
“We don’t have to panic. We just have to follow (the Department of Health) protocols including the joint memorandum for holding public gatherings. We are not disrespecting (the flagellants’) religious beliefs and practices, but we actually are protecting them from the disease that may put them and their family at risk,” San Fernando City Mayor Edwin Santiago said in a statement.
Santiago said the local government has been discouraged to hold huge religious activities– including its Holy Week tradition of the the crucifixion rites, which attract both local and foreign tourists during the Lenten season. The Health Department earlier advised LGUs to cancel public gatherings that will attract crowds.
The San Fernando government has also issued a resolution on infection control policies for public events in the city. The resolution’s guidelines include monitoring of all participants in public events with infrared thermometers; providing the participants with hand sanitizers or 70% isopropyl alcohol, surgical masks; and providing wastebaskets for the proper disposal of all types of wastes.
The World Health Organization recently declared the novel coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic. The viral disease has 118,000 cases in 114 countries, including 4,291 deaths.
