Christians are celebrating their second COVID-19 Christmas as surging infections in many countries overwhelmed hospitals, canceled flights and curbed religious observances.
While some countries in Asia imposed restrictions to try to contain the highly contagious omicron variant, governments in Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere preached common sense despite reporting record daily cases this week, advising their citizens to use masks and voluntarily limit the size of holiday gatherings.
In the United States, many churches canceled planned in-person Christmas services, and for those that did have in-person worship, clergy reported smaller but significant attendance. “Grant health to the infirm and inspire all men and women of good will to seek the best ways possible to overcome the current health crisis and its effects,” Francis said from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. “Open hearts to ensure that necessary medical care – and vaccines in particular – are provided to those peoples who need them most.”
Gov. Arthur Yap of hard-hit Bohol province, where more than 100 people died in the typhoon and about 150,000 houses were damaged or destroyed, asked foreign aid agencies to help provide temporary shelters and water-filtration systems to supplement Philippine government aid. In South Korea, social distancing rules required churches to limit worshippers to 70% of seating capacity, and service attendees had to be fully vaccinated.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
2021 Notebook: The COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine rollout | AP NewsTHE BACKGROUND: The year started with a lot of promise. The world had vaccines. And even as the planet reached 2 million dead by the middle of the month of January, people in many of the hard-hit countries, including the United States and Britain, began rolling up their sleeves and receiving the life-saving shots.
Leer más »
Search for a COVID-19 test means sold-out signs, long lines | AP NewsNEW YORK (AP) — President Joe Biden promised to distribute hundreds of millions of free COVID-19 tests and to open more testing sites to fight surging infections, but the stepped-up efforts will not come in time for people who want to find out if they are infected before the holidays.
Leer más »
US sets shorter COVID-19 isolation rules for health workers | AP NewsU.S. officials are loosening rules that call on health care workers to stay out of work for 10 days if they test positive for COVID-19. The revised guidelines allow workers to return after seven days if they test negative and don’t have any symptoms.
Leer más »
Airlines cancel flights due to COVID staffing shortages | AP NewsDelta and United have canceled 400 Christmas Eve or Christmas flights between them as the omicron variant jumbles schedules and draws down staffing levels. But American said it had “nothing to report,” while Southwest said “things are running smoothly.”
Leer más »
COVID-19 makes Biden's 1st White House Christmas less merryThe holiday scene at the White House has been a little less merry under under COVID-19's shadow.
Leer más »
Covid in Scotland: Enjoy Christmas but be careful says health chiefScots can celebrate Christmas but should be cautious, National Clinical Director Jason Leitch says.
Leer más »