Quiapo Church, OSG on lockdown

MANILA, Philippines — Quiapo Church in Manila and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG)’s headquarters in Makati City have been put under lockdown.

A few weeks after it was partially opened to the faithful, Quiapo Church was put on lockdown in mid-June after a priest tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The church will remain closed until July 4.

Parochial vicar Fr. Douglas Badong said yesterday they have closed the church’s doors to keep the faithful safe. They also disinfected the premises and the priests and staff underwent quarantine, he added.

Badong said they all tested negative during last Wednesday’s rapid testing and none of them have manifested any COVID-19 symptoms so far.

While the church is closed, Badong said they will continue holding virtual masses and have installed screens and sound systems outside the church.

The priest sought shelter at the church after he was stranded when Metro Manila was placed under community quarantine in March, according to Badong.

When the priest went back to Mindanao, he tested positive for COVID-19, Badong added.

Meanwhile, the Santisima Trinidad Parish in Malate, Manila was also closed after a priest and an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

The priest, who did not have symptoms, is reportedly under strict home quarantine while the employee is recuperating at a hospital.

The church did not disclose when it will reopen to the public.

On the other hand, the OSG said in a statement yesterday that its headquarters will be placed on lockdown after an employee tested positive for COVID-19 with a rapid test kit.

The OSG said the lockdown will be implemented “immediately” but did not state when the lockdown would be lifted.

Only employees from its financial management service and the sanitation and disinfection team will be allowed on the premises, the OSG said.

No documents would be received or sent out until further notice, the OSG said.

Last month, the Department of Justice, which supervises the OSG, was placed on lockdown due to a number of confirmed cases among its employees.