Maintain COVID-19 health protocols during observance of Holy Week - bishop

Catholics are called to maintain COVID-19 health protocols as several activities are lined up in churches in the observance of Holy Week, according to a post on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

"Even though the pandemic has subsided, let us not let our guard down. Let us continue following the health protocols so that we can finally defeat this pandemic," CBCP President and Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David told Radio Veritas on Friday.

"We must continue wearing face masks and observe physical distance as a way to care for one another," he added.

Bishop David issued the statement after the health department took note of religious practices, such as the pahalik which may be the cause for the spread of the viral disease.

On self-flagellation, David said, "until now, we discourage people from doing those practices as there are other ways to sacrifice or do penitence."

"The most important way of penitence is to do charity, especially for the poor," he added.

The observance of the Holy Week starts on Sunday, also called Palm Sunday, April 10 and ends on Easter Sunday, April 17. -- BAP, GMA News