DOH discourages kissing of altars, crucifixions during Holy Week

With the Holy Week approaching, the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday discouraged the kissing of altars and crucifixions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Holy Week will be from Sunday, April 10 until Saturday, April 16.

“Itong virus na ito, alam po natin that it can be transmitted through droplet infection na maari na makapagpasa pasa… kung tayo ay hahalik sa isang puon na hinalikan paulit-ulit ng ibang tao,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing.

(This virus, we know  that it can be transmitted through droplet infection that can be passed on… if we kiss an altar that has been repeatedly kissed by others.)

She said the Health Department advised and urged churches to temporarily discontinue the practice for the time being.

“Meron naman po tayong mga iba pang bagay o ano ba ways kung paano tayo makakapag show ng ating devotion sa ating mga santo, sa ating mga pinupuntahang simbahan,” Vergeire said.

(There are other ways we can show our devotion to the saints, our churches.)

“Sana po itong practice na ito maiwasan para hindi na tayo magkaroon ng pagtaas ng kaso kung saka-sakali dahil sa practice na ito,” she added.

(Hopefully, this practice can be avoided to prevent an increase in cases.)

Further, the DOH was discouraging crucifixions as this can cause significant harm to an individual.

“Naiintindihan natin ‘yung ating mga paniniwala, ‘yung ating religion, and naniniwala po tayo na kanya-kanya po ang bawat tao sa kanilang relihiyon at kung paano gusto nilang ipakita ang kanilang pagsamba sa ating Panginoon,” said Vergeire.

(We understand that we have our beliefs, our faith. And we believe we each have a particular way of worshipping God.)

She warned that crucifixions can cause blood loss, tetanus, and other kinds of infections.

“We request and we recommend no, a-advise po natin sa ating mga kababayan, kung maiiwasan naman po, maari naman po tayo, katulad ng sabi ko, sumamba sa ating Panginoon sa ibang paraan,” she said.

(We are advising our countrymen to avoid this. Like I said we can worship God in other ways.)

— DVM, GMA News