Sto. Niño basilica prepares reopening after 5 personnel recover from Covid-19

Basilica del Santo Niño de Cebu. (Photo from the Basilica website)

Cebu City’s most famous pilgrimage church is preparing for reopening after five of its personnel have been cleared of the coronavirus disease.

In a statement issued Friday, the Augustinian-run Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (BMSN) confirmed that its employees “are now Covid-free”.

“In line with this, the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino and the Pilgrim Center are now being prepared for its reopening,” said Fr. Andres Rivera Jr., prior provincial of the Augustian Province of Cebu.

The church compound has been closed to the public since May 25 after suspected Covid-19 cases were detected inside the convent.

Two weeks later, test results confirmed that five of the church’s personnel were infected with the coronavirus but they remained asymptomatic.

Fr. Rivera said the reopening date along with the guidelines and precautionary measures for all the devotees and pilgrims will be announced soon.

“We thank the public for the whole-hearted support, understanding and for all the undying prayers offered,” he said.

The city has just shifted to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) on Thursday after being placed under the strictest lockdown restrictions for 15 days due to the increase of Covid-19 cases. (CBCP News)

A version of this article was first published on CBCP News.