Millions of Catholics in the Philippines are attending Sunday Mass for the first time since the country went into coronavirus lockdown.

Footage filmed today (June 7th) showed the faithful queueing outside Quiapo Church in Manila and staff cleaning pews inside the religious venue.

Starting June 1, religious gatherings in areas under "general community quarantine" were allowed as long as they occupy only half of the church or other religious venue.

The number of COVID-19 deaths in the Philippines has surpassed 1,000, the Department of Health reported on Sunday.

The DOH recorded nine new fatalities, raising the death toll to 1,003.

On the first Sunday of General Community Quarantine (GCQ), hundreds of Catholic faithful queue outside Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene also known as Quiapo Church in Manila.

Religious gatherings in areas under general community quarantine may now resume but they would be highly restricted and limited people to enter inside the church and must observe proper health standards.