Prelates glad Quiapo, Tondo fiestas did not cause spike in cases

MANILA – Church officials on Thursday welcomed the report saying there was no spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) after the holiday season and during the celebration of the Black Nazarene feast held last month.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Apostolic Administrator of Manila said this proves that the religious events were held with caution.

“That is good news. The Quiapo and Sto. Niño events were well managed in spite of many people. The grace of our Lord worked,” he said in a text message.

The Manila auxiliary bishop added that the report could also be a basis to allow more people inside churches.

“It could be a basis. The church is not a spreader. We have an organized management of our services,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene popularly known as Quiapo Church, expressed gratitude to God for the good result of the report.

“Thank you Lord. I hope they will realize and should not think that going to church is adding to the problem and think that the faith of the people will be able to help in fighting and stop the spread of the virus,” he said.

The feasts of the Black Nazarene and the Sto. Niño are held every January.

On Wednesday, the OCTA Research group reported that there was no spike in Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila after the holiday season and the holding of church activities.

In its latest report, the group noted that the Covid-19 reproduction number in the region remained at 1.

Reproduction number refers to how contagious an infectious disease is or the number of people who can get the virus from one infected person.