Quiapo Church reopens after two-week lockdown

Quiapo Church reopened on Friday following a two-week lockdown that stemmed from a visiting priest contracting COVID-19, according to Darlene Cay's report on Unang Balita.

Because of this, devotees flocked to the church for the First Friday Mass, some of them already at the vicinity the night before.

"First Friday nga kasi, ang hirap sumakay," said 70-year-old Betty Carillo, who spent the night at Plaza Miranda.

The first Mass for the day started at 5 a.m. and only 10 devotees were allowed entrance to the church to ensure social distancing amid the pandemic.

The end of lockdown, which started on June 19, also marked the end of self-quarantine for the church's officials and personnel.

During the lockdown, people were not allowed to enter the church while the priests and other personnel inside the church were not allowed to go outside.

On Friday, those who were not able to enter the church stayed outside to hear the Mass. Church marshalls were deployed to ensure physical distancing was observed. --KBK, GMA News