At 10% capacity: Religious gatherings to be allowed in GCQ areas starting July 11

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that starting July 11 mass gatherings for religious worship will be allowed at 10 percent capacity in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ).

“The purpose of allowing up to 10 percent attendance in religious worship gatherings (instead of 10 persons maximum) in GCQ areas, apart from heeding the clamor of the churches and their faithful, is to provide an opportunity to the various religious congregations to test the effectiveness of their health protocols prior to de-escalation to MGCQ (modified GCQ), where 50 percent attendance is permitted,” he said.

“But this is without prejudice to the discretion of the churches and religious congregations to voluntarily suspend worship activities at any time should there be any visible threat of COVID-19 transmission,” he added.

In the meantime, Guevarra said dry runs will be made in select churches, mosques and temples until July 10.

“Thereafter, 10 percent attendance in all religious worships in GCQ areas will begin,” he said.

“In MGCQ areas, 50 percent attendance has been allowed since July 1,” Guevarra noted.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)