The announcement just days before by the Ministry of Public Health that Omicron, the fastest spreading Covid-19 variant, was circulating in the National District, did not dissuade the evangelical church of Ezequiel Molina to cancel the holding of the massive congregation, the 58th version of the “Batalla de la Fe” at the Olympic Stadium on 30 December 2021. The event was not held in 2019 or 2020 due to Covid-19. The organizers distributed masks to all the participants and photos of the event show these being worn.
Earlier in December, Aventura and Romeo Santos had filled the stadium for two consecutive nights of bachata music. But this was before the confirmation of the entry of the Omicron variant.
The religious congregation had led the anti-vac movement among evangelicals, until pastor Ezequiel Molina Sanchez announced he had gotten vaccinated on 23 December 2021. He argued that before he did not need the vaccine. He and his father, Ezequiel Molina Rosario, are the lead ministers for the congregation and spoke at the religious event.
Minister of Public Health Daniel Rivera had openly discouraged the celebration of the mass religious event at a time when Omicron is spreading in the Dominican Republic. But the Ministry of Public Works did not order the cancellation of the religious gathering.
After the Ministry of Public Health announced the circulating of Omicron variant, thousands of people-gatherings were cancelled nationwide for the holidays to avoid spreading the virus.
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3 January 2022