Churches mull getting visitors' information for contact tracing

Catholic Church leaders on Wednesday said they are considering getting the personal information of their visitors for contact tracing purposes.

“Possible po ‘yung ganung patakaran,” Father Mhel Dacillo of Baclaran Church said in a press conference.

Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos said they have discussed setting up a registration area upon entrance in churches.

He said CCTV cameras can also help in reviewing sitting arrangements.

Fr. Luciano Felloni of the Diocese of Novaliches, which has around 70,000 parishioners, said the church is also looking into the measure to prevent possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission.

In Negros Occidental, Alminaza said Governor Eugenio Lacson allowed churches to resume masses and other religious activities with only 50 percent of its regular capacity of attendees under the general community quarantine.

Alminaza said "common sense" will guide them in interpreting the number of allowed visitors for every mass.

Under the “new normal,” Alminaza added they expect churches will have more online engagements. —LDF, GMA News