Cemeteries all over the country will likely be closed during All Saints' Day and All Soul's Day, or Undas, to adhere to social distancing protocols under quarantine, an official from the country's COVID-19 task force said Tuesday night.
It followed Manila Mayor Isko Moreno's announcement that the city's cemeteries would be closed from Oct.31 to Nov. 3 to prevent crowding, which could hasten the spread of the virus.
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Filipinos usually visit deceased loved ones and reunite with family members during Undas, resulting in jampacked cemeteries all over the Philippines.
"Wala pa pong announcement kasi hindi pa iniisyuhan ng polisiya, pero malamang po 'yan ang mangyayari (There is no announcement yet because there is no policy yet, but it is likely that is what will happen.)," National Task Force on COVID-19 spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
Padilla advised the public to pay their respects and visit the deceased ahead of time.
