By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Amid the ongoing threat posed by the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV), the Diocese of Bacolod has started implementing preventive action against the virus. Diocese of Bacolod Social Action Center head, Rev. Fr. Chris Gonzales, said they support the recommendation by health officials for churchgoers to temporarily avoid shaking hands and cheek-kisses, or ‘beso-beso.’
Priests in the diocese, along with their respective ministers, were also advised to present the holy communion by hand instead of directly placing it into a person’s mouth.
The move was also based on recommendations by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
The CBCP suggested checking and changing holy water regularly, installing protective cloths on the grills of confessionals, and discouraging hand-holding during the Lord’s prayer.
During the masses yesterday, priests in the diocese were ordered to deliver Bishop Patricio Buzon’s message regarding the actions being taken.
The CBCP also issued an “oratio imperata,” or prayer against nCoV./DGB, WDJ