Catholics may have to practice social distancing at church whenever they partake in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said it plans to disallow its faithful from holding hands and kissing on the cheek during Mass. This is part of its precautionary measure against the possible spread of the A(H1N1) influenza virus.

The CBCP said it also plans to ask devotees to refrain from kissing religious statues.

CBCP spokesman Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, however, noted that it will still be up to every diocese to undertake the necessary precautionary steps to avert the spread of the flu virus.

Quitorio also clarified that the Catholic Church does not require the holding of hands during the singing of the Lord’s Prayer.

The Philippines has now reported two cases of H1N1 infections.  In the latest tally of World Health Organization, the strain has already infected more than 11,000 people in 42 countries and killed 86.  With reports from dzMM and Reuters