In response to appeals from the Vietnam Government and local authorities, religious organizations in Quang Binh province have proactively participated in the Covid-19 prevention and control with practical activities in the locality.
The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s (VBS) Executive Committee in Quang Binh province has urged the district-level VBS board, pagodas and local Buddhists to strictly observe preventing measures against the pandemic. Especially, as the Buddha Birthday 2021 (B.E 2565) celebrated on 8th -15th day of fourth lunar month this year in the context of the Covid-19 resurgent cases in the northern region, the provincial VBS executive committee diocese has sent a dispatch to local pagodas asking them to celebrate the event with prevention measures against the epidemic
In addition, during the Buddha Birthday 2021 in Quang Binh, local pagodas have provided free facemasks, disinfectant solution, and reduced gatherings of people. Pagodas of Dai Giac (Dong Hoi city), Thanh Quang (Bo Trach district) and Vinh Phuc (Tuyen Hoa pagoda) have refrained from organizing religious activities and events with large numbers of participants and asked Buddhist monks, nuns and followers to seriously follow the 5K message by the Health Ministry.
The office of Ha Tinh diocese sent two dispatches to priests, clergies and lay Catholics in provinces of Quang Binh and Ha Tinh, asking them to strictly implement prevention measures against the epidemic and suspend religious gatherings of large participants.
Local Catholics did not see masses in churches of parishes and deaneries on these days. Priests reminded their members of preventive measures against the pandemic with wearing facemask, disinfectant solution, staying home and not going out unnecessarily, etc.
According to Chairman of Quang Binh provincial Committee for Religious Affairs Trần Đức Thủy, despite important events of Vesak Day and the summer retreat of Buddhism and the Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima of Catholicism, religious followers in the province have voluntarily and strictly implemented guidelines by relevant authorities, and joined hands with local authorities in the Covid19 prevention and control.
