Lockdown tests faith in virus-hit Philippines; Covid-19 cases now standing at 336,926

Catholic faithful wearing face shields and maintaining physical distancing attend a mass at the usually packed Baclaran church in Paranaque City, suburban Manila. After months of livestreaming mass to millions of faithful from behind closed doors, churches in the Catholic-majority Philippines are beginning to reopen. - AFP

MANILA, Oct 10, (AFP): After months of livestreaming mass to millions of faithful from behind closed doors, churches in the Catholic-majority Philippines are beginning to reopen.

But strict coronavirus rules mean worship is still far from normal, and the contagion spreading across the deeply religious country has forced churches to get creative to meet the spiritual needs of their congregations.