Amid rising cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country, religious gatherings have been allowed in Quezon City starting Saturday (July 11).
The local government on Friday said Mayor Joy Belmonte gave the holding of religious activities a green light following the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases' (IATF) decision to allow such in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ).
However, in a memorandum dated July 9, Belmonte set guidelines that should be observed during religious gatherings, among them that only persons between 21 to 59 years old and those who have no comorbidity or immunodeficiency will be allowed to attend any religious gathering
Belmonte also encouraged religious groups to have separate entry and exit points and conduct hand sanitizing and thermal scanning on people attending the gatherings.
Should an attendee register a body temperature above 37.5 degrees Celsius, they should not be allowed entry and "must be isolated at an appropriate location in the venue pending initial investigation by the barangay or health center,” the local government said.
“Proper social distancing must also be strictly exercised in all religious venues,” Belmonte said, adding that all forms of physical touch are prohibited.
She said all attendees are required to wear face masks, but "if any religious practice necessitates the removal of the face mask or face covering, this shall be done quickly and put back in place immediately."
As of Friday (July 10), Quezon City has already reported 4,239 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
"Kinikilala ng pamahaalang lungsod ang kahalagahan ng pananampalataya at relihiyon sa ating mga Pilipino, lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemic (The local government recognizes the importance of faith and religion to the Filipinos, especially now in this time of pandemic),” Belmonte said.
“Hinihingi ko ang pang-unawa ng lahat dahil kailangan nating maglagay ng mahigpit na mga patakaran upang maiwasan ang anumang aberya sa hinaharap (I'm asking for everyone's understanding because we need to enforce strict measures to avoid any problems in the future),” she added.
