Contact tracing can also be done for Mass attendees — Manila bishop

MANILA, Philippines — Contact tracing can also be done for Mass attendees, similar to the order of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for operators of public utility vehicles to keep a list of their passengers, Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said on Wednesday.

“Pwede rin gawin sa simbahan ‘yan. Kung ganoon ang gagawin, may form na [kung saan] susulat sila [attendees] (We can also do that in churches. If we will do that, church attendees will write their details in forms),” Pabillo said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo, referring to the LTFRB order.

Pabillo said Catholic Church leaders have submitted to the Department of Health (DOH) its proposed guidelines for holding religious activities two weeks ago but government authorities have yet to respond.

“Natatakot sila, ‘yung contact tracing daw kung sino ang sisimba, pero ganoon din ang nangyayari sa malls. May contact tracing ba sila sa malls (They are afraid about contact tracing, but the situation is also the same in malls. Do they have contact tracing in malls)?” said Pabillo.

He then repeated his appeal for the government to respond to the proposed guidelines of the church so that it can resume holding actual religious activities with the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine in most parts of the country.

Should the holding of actual Masses inside churches resume, Pabillo said everyone inside the church will be required to wear face masks except for priests and lectors when they are speaking before the congregation.

Thermal scanners and sanitizers will also be available inside church halls as part of health protocols to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to Pabillo.

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/MUF