By Mar T. Supnad
MARIVELES, Bataan – “Wag muna, wag ngayon.”
AMID a continuing threat of being contaminated with the deadly coronavirus disease, two local chief executives in this province made an appeal to the public to momentarily refrain from attending religious gatherings, including church mass.
Citing the general welfare of their constituents, Mayors Jocelyn P. Castañeda of Mariveles and Aida Macalinao of Samal town separately issued directives discouraging local folks from attending religious gatherings and face-to-face mass.
In issuing Executive Order 32 series of 2020, Castañeda likewise enjoined religious groups to seriously consider online methods in their activities as an alternative to the face-to-face gathering.
Bataan Governor Abet S. Garcia earlier issued similar reminders to the local folks to avoid mass gatherings, face-to-face meetings, attending religious activities following the infection of a lot of people who attended a recent religious gathering inside a hotel in Balanga City.
Among the salient points of their issuances include:
• Steady increase of COVID-19 positive cases in the country, surpassing China in their official reported cases
• Number of cases have also surpassed the predictions set by experts on the resurgence of the pandemic in our country
• A similar spike in increase of the number of cases in Bataan which was brought about by a COVID-19 positive individual attending a religious gathering
• Limited government funds to address the recent surge in the number of cases
• Inadequate facilities to accommodate all COVID-19 positive patients
The local chief executive said that while they recognize the power of prayer during these trying times, they hinted urgency to arrest the surge of COVID-19 cases and to prevent a repeat of the incident that led to such surge.
Interestingly, the inter-agency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases issued guidelines allowing religious gatherings to up to 50 percent of the building capacity. “We must also ensure the general safety of the public and the faithful which is also of paramount consideration,” Castańeda, a lawyer, said in her order.
Castañeda, however, said that the restriction of the Executive order will be good for only 15 days “unless sooner lifted or extended.”
In Samal town, Mayor Macalinao also urged her constituents to refrain from mass gatherings face-to-face and always follow social distancing and wear face mask to avoid being infected by the dreaded virus.