Due to the prevailing coronavirus disease pandemic, the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 approved the recommendation to suspend the traditional procession of Black Nazarene or “Traslacion” this year and all other activities related to it.

In a resolution released Tuesday night, Jan. 4, the NTF cited the detection of various variants of concern in the country – Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron – as among the reasons for the approval of the recommendation to suspend Traslacion.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved, the NTF approves the following: The ‘Traslacion’ or the procession of the Black Nazarene’s image and all other activities related to such is suspended,” the task force said.

Further, the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo Church will be closed from Jan. 7 to 9 and no Holy Mass shall be physically conducted on the said dates.

“All Holy Masses will be aired online nationwide,” the NTF added.

Meanwhile, the NTF tapped the Manila Police District (MPD) and the Joint Task Force COVID Shield to establish checkpoints and deploy security personnel “to discourage devotees/people from gathering” around the Quiapo Church.

Traslacion is a religious festival celebrated yearly by the Catholic faithful by participating in the procession of Black Nazarene, an image of Jesus Christ, around Quiapo Church.

This commemorates the transfer of the venerated image of the Black Nazarene from Intramuros, Manila to Quiapo Church in 1767.

Traslacion often attract millions of people at Quiapo Church but it has since been banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Metro Manila recently experienced a rapid increase of COVID-19 infections amid the threat of the Omicron variant, prompting President Duterte to place the capital region under Alert Level 3.