Public Masses exempted in Lahug’s granular lockdown but… 

This March 2020 photo shows the facade of the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City. | CDN file photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Only a few violators were caught last Sunday, February 14, 2021, when Barangay Lahug implemented a mandatory stay-at-home Sunday protocol to address the rising coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

Lahug Barangay Captain Hazel Muaña – Empleo said the first day of the implementation was generally smooth and successful except for a few individuals caught violating health protocols.

“There were fewer than 10 people rounded up for not wearing face masks, failure to present quarantine passes,” said Empleo in Cebuano. 

Empleo also said all business establishments were compliant with the reinforcement of restrictions by closing operations every Sunday. 

“When we conducted our roving around 8 a.m., there were two establishments that remained open but they later closed after we informed them of our stringent rules,” she added. 

While businesses are closed, and residents told not to go outside every Sunday, public Masses at Lahug’s parish church – St. Therese Church – were still allowed. 

Empleo, however, said conducting face-to-face Masses were also subject to health protocols, which included instructing churchgoers to go home after attending each Mass. 

“But last Sunday, the church, when we inspected, was nearly empty as everyone is encouraged to attend Masses virtually,” explained Empleo. 

Village officials in Lahug decided to reinforce their existing quarantine restrictions every Sunday, by closing business establishments and ordering people to stay at home, as part of their efforts to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19. 

Empleo said they will sustain implementation of these protocols every Sunday until their active cases will decrease.

Data from Cebu City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) showed that Lahug is the fourth barangay with the most number of active COVID-19 cases as of February 13, with 82.  

/bmjo

Read: Granular lockdown eyed in Cebu City barangays with most number of COVID-19 cases