No contact details, no entry at Manaoag shrine

MANAOAG, Pangasinan, Philippines — Aside from observing minimum health protocols, devotees need to provide their contact details before they can enter the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag.

The move is seen to help in contact tracing in case any of the devotees is infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

“No contact details, no entry,” an advisory of the Dominican Community of the Priory of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag read.

”The health and safety of all devotees is our primary concern when we resume liturgical services,” it added.

The contact details should be written on a piece of paper to be dropped in a box at the entrance of the church.

”We are prepared,” the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag said in a post on Facebook, referring to the reopening of the shrine.

Masses are scheduled on Sundays at 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

On Mondays to Saturdays, masses will be held at 6 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The shrine, which drew thousands of devotees before the COVID-19 pandemic, will reopen only at 40 percent capacity.

Closed on Sundays

Meanwhile, in Cebu, Minglanilla Mayor Elanito Peña signed an executive order (EO) on the closure of business establishments, including food deliveries, on Sundays.

Only drugstores and funeral parlors are exempted from the closure order.

Violators face revocation of their business permits.

“There is an increasing number of confirmed cases in Minglanilla... Mitigation measures should be implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases in the municipality,” the EO read.

Minglanilla remains under general community quarantine. It has 65 confirmed cases. Lorraine Ecarma/The Freeman