THE church discourages churchgoers from handshaking and kissing too amid the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) scare.
Bacolod Social Action Center head, Reverend Fr. Chris Gonzales, said they support the advice made by health officials that the churchgoers should temporarily avoid handshaking and kissing.
Priests in the diocese along with their respective ministers were also advised to give the Holy Communion by hand instead of directly giving it to the person's mouth.
The move of the local diocese was also based on a recommendation made by the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Among the other recommendations by the CBCP is to check and change the Holy Water regularly, installing protective cloth on the grills of the confessionals, and discouraging hand holding during the Lord's prayer.
During the masses on Sunday, February 2, priests in the diocese were also ordered to release the message of Bishop Patricio Buzon regarding the actions being made to prevent the virus from spreading.
The CBCP has also issued an "oratio imperata" or a prayer against nCoV.