Black Nazarene feast a 'superspreader' event, OCTA Research says

The Black Nazarene feast held this year, albeit without the annual procession of the life-sized image of the dark-skinned Jesus Christ carrying the cross, was a "superspreader" event amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the OCTA Research said on Saturday.

"Actually hindi na nga namin iniisip 'yan eh. Alam natin na puwedeng malaki ang effect talaga ng [pista] na 'yan sa infection, superspreader event, totoo 'yung sabi mo," Dr. Guido David of the OCTA Research team said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview when sought for comment on the Black Nazarene feast possibly causing COVID-19 cases to spike anew.

David, however, said they have not made their projection on COVID-19 cases regarding the event, but could use figures presented by authorities, such as the 400,000 devotees that flocked the Quiapo Church, as mentioned by the Manila Police District.

"Hindi namin ginawan ng projection 'yan o forecast, kasi... 'yun nga, sabi mo, 400,000, so possible naman. Puwede tayong mag-project based on that estimate. Pero beforehand hindi namin ginawan ng projection," David said.

Further, COVID-19 data in the past two or three weeks were incomplete due to the reduced capacities of testing laboratories over the holidays.

A rise in COVID-19 cases are however expected now that testing centers are back in full operation.

"Ang nakikita natin tataas pa ito, tapos hindi pa kasama 'yung epekto nitong [pista] na sinasabi mo, kasi posibleng mas tumaas pa. Sana naman hindi," David said.

"Kung mga one week lang or two weeks tinagal 'yan, ibig sabihin 'yan 'yung mostly backlog lang 'yan ng holidays. Pero kung more than two weeks na tumataas pa rin 'yan, possible na effect 'yan ng [pista]," David said. -Jamil Santos/MDM, GMA News