Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 5)— The capability of churches to maintain health and safety protocols in religious gatherings in areas under general community quarantine will be tested amid threats of the COVID-19 pandemic, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Sunday.
The Department of Justice, which is part of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, noted that the new directive is not just solely for heeding to the clamor of the churches and their faithful.
“The purpose of allowing up to 10 percent attendance in religious worship gatherings (instead of 10 persons maximum) in GCQ areas…is to provide an opportunity to the various religious congregations to test the effectiveness of their health protocols prior to de-escalation to MGCQ, where 50 percent attendance is permitted,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.
Guevarra noted, however, that such religious activities must still be suspended anytime should cases surge anew.
“But this is without prejudice to the discretion of the churches and religious congregations to voluntarily suspend worship activities at any time should there be any visible threat of COVID-19 transmission,” he said.
The IATF previously announced that there will be pilot dry runs in a few selected churches, mosques, and temples in areas under GCQ until July 10, with only a 10 percent capacity.
The government previously maintained a 10-people limit on religious gatherings in places of worship under GCQ areas to curb the spread of the virus.
Already allowed for churches in modified GCQ areas since July 1 is 50 percent attendance limit.
President Rodrigo Duterte has extended Metro Manila’s GCQ status until July 15, while Cebu City is still under the enhanced community quarantine due to rising cases.
A total of 41,830 COVID-19 cases were reported in the Philippines on Saturday. There were 1,290 who died from the disease so far while 11,453 have already recovered.
