Quiapo Church in Manila City will be closed to the public from Monday, Jan. 3 until Thursday, Jan. 6, its administrators said following the rise of COVID-19 cases in the capital region.
The four-day closure of the church from the public will be used for disinfection activities in preparation for the feast of the Black Nazarene.
"Pansamantalang isinara sa publiko ang simbahan ng Quiapo mula ngayong araw Enero 3 hanggang Enero 6, ito ay bilang paghahanda sa darating na kapistahan ng Poong Hesus Nazareno," Quiapo Church said in a Facebook post.
"Ito ay tugon sa pagbabago ng Alert Level sa Metro Manila dahil sa naitalang mataas na kaso ng COVID-19," it added.
Quiapo Church earlier announced that the annual Jan. 9 Traslacion or Black Nazarene procession--joined by millions of devotees--would be canceled for the second straight year due to the pandemic as the country sees a rise in COVID-19 cases.
Metro Manila was placed under Alert Level 3 on Monday after COVID-19 cases in the country spiked in the past few days, which authorities attributed to the detection of local Omicron cases and complacency in the observance of minimum health standards.
MORE ON ALERT LEVEL 3:
Unvaccinated to be Banned Outdoors, Metro Manila Mayors Agree: MMDA
Alert Level 3: Here's Your Metro Manila Mall Guide
Alert Level 3 vs Alert Level 2, What Will Change?
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