Angeles cemeteries closed during Undas

ANGELES CITY , Philippines —  The city government of Angeles has ordered all public and private cemeteries in the city closed from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 as a deterrent against the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. appealed to his constituents to pray and light candles for their departed loved ones at home to prevent mass gathering and  convergence in cemeteries.

“While the city government respects the Filipino tradition of remembering our departed loved ones, mass gathering of people during  these particular days poses danger and may spread disease due to lack of social distancing,” Lazatin said in an order issued on Sept. 8.

The city government encouraged residents to consider alternative dates in visiting the cemeteries.

Lazatin reiterated the measure is part of the city government’s effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, in Zamboanga City, visits in cemeteries on All Saints and Souls’ Days will be prohibited due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases.

“This is what we have to decide because it’s not only in Metro Manila but also other cities prohibited visits on the cemeteries on Nov. 1,” Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said. – Ric Sapnu, Roel Pareño

Salazar, who chairs the local task force on COVID, said they would issue safety guidelines to protect the people from the virus.

The same guidelines is being considered to be implemented during the celebration of  the city’s Fiesta Hermosa Festival next month, to regulate the flow of the people, Salazar said.

“The safety guidelines is meant to prevent the spread of the virus as the risk is high,” Salazar said.

She disclosed that an employee of the city engineering department died from COVID.

The fatality was among five new recorded deaths, bringing the total number to 62.

The city health office recorded 1,393 total cases, 434 of which are, and 897 recoveries. – Roel Pareño