Cantonal COE adopted this measure due to the epidemiological situation in neighboring localities.
MONTECRISTI, Manabí.
The Emergency Operations Committee (COE) of the Montecristi canton decided to suspend the trade fair, public dances and other activities of massive attendance that are generated by the patron saint festivities of the Virgin of Monserrate in this Manabi canton.
The events for this religious holiday began last Friday the 5th and will culminate on the 21st of this month with a motorized procession.
According to authorities, the suspension of the fair and dances, which had already been promoted by social networks, is due to the increase in cases of COVID-19, which occur in Manta and Portoviejo, neighboring cantons of Montecristi, and from where thousands attend en masse of pilgrims to these celebrations. Some even in previous years came walking, as an act of penance or thanks to the image.
Alfredo Villacís, Montecristi councilor and a doctor by profession, indicated that they awaited the report from officials of the Manta health district on the epidemiological status of the neighboring towns of Montecristi, and the results were not flattering.
For now, according to data from the vaccinometer, Manabí reaches 66.88% of the population 5 years and older with the second dose of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine.
The councilor pointed out that although in Montecristi the pandemic is “controlled”, in Manta and Portoviejo there is an increase in cases.
“So much so that the hospital units of the Social Security and the Ministry of Public Health are almost at their maximum capacity. Knowing that thousands of parishioners come to Montecristi, this is not going to be the exception, a third wave of infections would be expected for Montecristi, and that will be a trigger for many people to fall ill again ”, declared Villacís.
The activities in the Basilica Menor de Montecristi continue normally, although the capacity was reduced to 50%, that is, only about 350 people can enter the temple where the image of the Virgin of Monserrate rests.
Marcelo García is the parish priest of this Manabi church and who considers that the measure of suspending the trade fair is mainly to avoid COVID-19 infections.
At the moment the scheduled masses are maintained, as well as the motorized procession for 4:00 p.m. on November 21.
“We are not promoting pilgrimages, but it is inevitable because people are going to come,” Garcia stressed about the pilgrimage that mainly parishioners make from Manta, in a 12-kilometer journey.
It was learned that some merchants had already advanced the payment for the lease of a space of the fair that was going to be located on Manta Street, before which Villacís pointed out that they will have to request the return of the money to the auctioneers. The mayor added that informal traders and even pilgrims will be controlled to avoid crowds during these days of religious festivals in Montecristi. (I)
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