Roads leading to Quiapo Church cordoned off

Roads leading to Quiapo Church  in Manila were closed days before the annual Feast of Black Nazarene to bar devotees from gathering there amid the recent spike of COVID-19 cases.

According to Maki Pulido's "24 Oras" report, authorities placed plastic barriers to block roads near the church such as Hidalgo and Villalobos Streets.

Policemen also started guarding Rizal Avenue and Carriedo  to prevent devotees from entering the closed roads.

Checkpoints will also be stationed at the Southbound lane of Quezon Boulevard from Fugoso Street to Quezon Bridge.

Apart from road closures, police asked street vendors to leave the area. Some vendors were disappointed as it would affect their income to buy their essential goods.

The Catholic Church will instead hold online masses on January 9. It also once again canceled the annual Traslacion and physical masses due to the pandemic. 

The Philippines' active tally soared to 56,561 on Thursday. To date, the total cases were at 2,888,917 with 51,743 deaths and 2,780,613 recoveries. —Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News