Novaliches Bishop Roberto Gaa has reminded the public to continue to observe the health protocols with the resurgence in cases of Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
The Church leader said he is happy that the situation in the country has somewhat normalized especially as Christmas nears three years after the pandemic.
“People are going back to church. The public are attending live mass again especially now that the‘Simbang Gabi’ is ongoing. While we now have more relaxed rules, the public must still remember to be cautious and careful,” said Bishop Gaa over Radio Veritas.
Mass goers may also now receive the Holy Communion by mouth although many prefer to still receive it by hand
“May I also remind the ministers to be careful not to touch the lips of the faithful while giving communion so as not to compromise the health of the other mass attendees,” the prelate said.
The bishop said that the health protocols may not be as rigid as before but “the public may benefit from wearing face masks especially in crowded places as well as to always sanitize their hands,” he said.
The health department has recorded almost 3,000 Covid-19 cases from Dec. 12 to 18, which is fifty percent higher than the previous week. The DoH said the cases are expected to rise with the ongoing holiday shopping and Christmas parties.