MANILA, Philippines — The Archdiocese of Cubao canceled the holding of Masses in all its churches starting Saturday, March 14, as a measure to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of the Diocese of Cubao ordered the suspension in his pastoral letter to implement social distancing amid the rising cases of respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2.
“There will be no public celebration of Holy Mass in all the parish churches and chapels in the Diocese of Cubao starting tomorrow, March 14, 2020. I hereby grant Dispensation to all our Catholic faithful from their Sunday obligations during the cancellation,” read the letter on Friday.
Ongtioco, however, said Masses will be available on livestream at the Diocese of Cubao’s Facebook page.
As of March 12, the Philippines has 52 confirmed cases, including five deaths, of COVID-19, which outbreak originated in China’s city of Wuhan in Hubei province in late 2019.
The World Health Organization has already declared COVID-19 as a pandemic with more than 110,000 people infected and 3,000 fatalities worldwide.
For most people, SAR-COV-2 leads to mild symptoms like fever and cough but it can be serious for others, especially older adults who have existing health problems.