Philippines cancels ‘Black Nazarene’ parade again on COVID-19 concerns

MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine authorities have cancelled an annual procession, which normally draws millions of Catholic devotees accompanying a black wooden statue of Jesus Christ through the streets of Manila, for a second straight year due to coronavirus concerns. The government’s coronavirus task force cancelled the “Black Nazerene” procession, which is one of the country’s largest religious festivals, before celebrations related to the Jan. 9 procession, were due to start on Friday because of rising COVID-19 infections. Unlike last year, there will be no in-person masses in the church hou…

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