Public Masses suspended during MECQ

PUBLIC Masses have been suspended again in the Archdiocese of Manila and nine other dioceses as coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections surged past 100,000.

Aside from Manila, the others that suspended public Masses and other liturgical gatherings were the dioceses of Cubao, Kalookan (Caloocan), Parañaque, Novaliches, Pasig, Antipolo, Imus ( Cavite), Malolos ( Bulacan) and San Pablo (Laguna).

The decision was arrived at after President Rodrigo Duterte announced that Metro Manila and nearby provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan and Rizal shall temporarily revert for two weeks to the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) or “lockdown” from a more relaxed general community quarantine to arrest the surging Covid-19 cases and in response to a plea of health workers to give them a “timeout” to recover from exhaustion.

Before the government order, the Archdiocese of Manila and the dioceses of Cubao and Parañaque have already announced the temporary suspension of public liturgical services for two weeks.

In a pastoral instruction, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, said the decision was made in response to the appeal of the medical community for a “timeout” to stem the Covid-19 surge.

Religious gatherings in areas under MECQ would be highly restricted and limited to five persons.

he was now Covid-19-free based on the final result of a swab test, which showed that he was already negative for the coronavirus.

He was found positive on July 23.

Another Catholic prelate, retired Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, 79, tested positive for the virus on August 1.

He was isolated in an undisclosed hospital “but [was] in stable condition.”