Religious gatherings up to 30% capacity allowed in GCQ areas

FILE: Main altar of Quiapo Church with the image of the Black Nazarene (Photo by Ramon FVelasquez/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has allowed religious gatherings in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) to fill up venues up to 30 percent of their seating capacity, Malacañang said Friday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the easing of seating capacity restrictions on religious gatherings was contained in Resolution 80 approved by the IATF-EID on Thursday.

Previously, religious activities in GCQ zones were authorized but only at 10-percent seating capacity.

“The religious denominations should strictly observe their submitted protocols and the minimum public health standards, particularly social distancing measures and non-pharmaceutical interventions such as the obligatory wearing of face masks and immediate availability of hand hygiene necessities in the premises,” the resolution read.

The latest decision to increase the seating capacity for religious gatherings to 30 percent from the current 10 percent was based on the recommendation of Metro Manila mayors.