DOH warns of possible COVID-19 spread in church choirs

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday warned about the possible spread of the new coronavirus through church choirs.

“Isa ‘yan sa dapat mapag-aralan at mapagsabihan rin of course ang ating mga kaparian at ating mga simbahan that this might be a cause of spreading the virus as well,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual media forum.

(It is one of the things that should be reviewed. Churches should also be advised that it might be a cause of the virus spread.)

Vergeire, however, noted that some choirs observe physical distancing. She also said that choir members do not have to face each other while singing during religious gatherings.

“They are all facing towards one direction, hindi sila harap-harap. Although I am not saying na hindi posible ang transmission pero mas nagkakaroon ng limit ang pagtransmit ng virus,” she said.

(They are all facing towards one direction. I am not saying transmission of the virus is now possible but there is a limit on the possibility of the virus being transmitted.)

“But this is still a venue for the transmission of the virus and we will be, siguro mas magkakaroon tayo ng advisories sa ating mga simbahan (maybe we will issue advisories to churches) regarding this matter,” Vergeire added.

Back in October, the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has allowed churches, mosques, and other places of worship in areas under a general community quarantine to hold religious gatherings at a seating capacity of 30 percent.

In June, the IATF announced that churches in modified general community quarantine areas may conduct religious services at a 50-percent seating capacity.

The country has already recorded a total of 445,540 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday. Of this figure, 27,781 are active cases with 1,383 newly-recorded infections, 409,058 are recoveries, and 8,701 are deaths.

/MUF