Palace: Limited religious gatherings allowed for fully vaxxed people in Alert Level 3 areas

Limited religious gatherings in areas under Alert Level 3 are allowed, the Palace said Wednesday.

Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles made the statement after the National Task Force decided to ban in-person religious gathering for the Feast of the Black Nazarene, an occasion that draws millions of Filipino Catholic devotees.

Prior to the such decision, no less the President Rodrigo Duterte called for the suspension of in-person religious gathering involving the Black Nazarene Feast dubbed as Traslacion. 

"Under Alert Level 3, it is at 30% [allowed operating capacity] indoor for fully vaccinated," Nograles said.

"Iyon pa rin po ang sinusunod natin (This is what remains in effect), although we suspended religious gathering for the Feast of the Black Nazarene," Nograles added.

There are at least 50.6 million Filipinos who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 so far, and the administration of booster shot against COVID-19 is also ongoing for those aged 18 and above.

Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal are under Alert Level 3 until January 15.

The Alert Level 3 protocol prohibits in person classes for basic education, karaoke and indoor entertainment, gatherings of people not belonging to the same household, casino/horse racing/cockfighting operations and contact sports except for bubble set up.

The COVID-19 positivity rate in the country has soared to 26% as of January 4 from less than 1% mid-December last year. — RSJ, GMA News