HomeDiocesan ReportsFilipino Catholic faithful required to wear face shields when going to church

Filipino Catholic faithful required to wear face shields when going to church

The faithful in the Diocese of Balanga in Bataan are now required to wear face masks and face shields when going to church to protect them from the new coronavirus disease.

Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga said the wearing of the face protections is now “compulsory.”

“As we are monitoring in Bataan the increase of Covid-19 positive (cases), we will adapt compulsory wearing of face shields,” said the prelate.




Bishop Santos said diocesan parish greeters, usherettes, and lay ministers of holy communion are also required to wear face masks and face shields.

He said the same applies to their diocesan schools.

“In our diocesan schools, it is compulsory for our teaching and non teaching personnel to wear face shields,” he said.

There is no word yet from other dioceses in the country, but the Archdiocese of Manila earlier announced that it will only require parishioners to wear a face shield if told to do so.

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“Our only requirement is the face mask, but if the [local government] will require the face shield we will follow,” said Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Manila.

Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao said they will “always follow the protocol set by the government.”

The celebrations of public Masses were earlier suspended in three dioceses in the national capital in response to the call of the medical community for a “time out.”

A churchgoer in the Philippine capital prays with her face mask and face shield on. (Photo by Mark Saludes)

Last week, the Department of Transportation required passengers in public vehicles to wear face masks and face shields.

The Labor department has also asked employees to face shields in workplaces starting August 15.

On Wednesday, August 12, the number of confirmed coronavirus disease cases in the Philippines surged to 143,749 after the Health department reported 4,444 new daily cases.

The number of recoveries further rose to 68,997 after 636 more patients have been reported to have survived the disease.

The death toll also increased to 2,404 after 93 more patients have succumbed to the viral disease.

Metro Manila topped the five regions or provinces with the highest number of daily confirmed cases reported on Wednesday with 2,618, followed by Laguna province 233; Cavite province 227; Rizal province 174; and Bulacan province 129.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that Covid-19 cases in the Philippines started to surge in the later part of June when the country eased lockdown restrictions.

The Philippine government reimposed a two-week strict lockdown on August 4 in Metro Manila and the outlying provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan.

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