Around the World: Corona Virus Impact on Good Friday Celebration.
360reporters takes a cursory view on how Covid-19 is affecting good friday ahead of easter celebrations.
Vatican City, Rome, Italy.
Due to coronavirus lockdown, the Vatican Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Pope has had to quickly reorganize the way the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday Mass are celebrated this year.
On Holy Thursday, the Chrism Mass did not take place. It has been postponed until after the pandemic. It normally takes place Thursday morning.
Later that night, the pope celebrated Holy Thursday Mass from the Vatican at 6 p.m., instead of going to a prison or another facility, like he normally does. The washing of the feet did not also take place.
Likewise, on Good Friday, the pope will venerate the Cross alone in St. Peter’s Basilica at 6 p.m. He will prostrate himself before the crucifix, to meditate on the Lord’s death.
The Way of the Cross will also be prayed from the basilica at 9 p.m., Rome time. They are traditionally prayed by Pope Francis on Good Friday from the Colosseum.
Lagos, Nigeria.
It is Good Friday today; but what is most paramount to most residents of Lagos State is that today is Day 11 of the lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and they are counting down in hours to either the expiration of the 14-day stay-at-home directive ending on Monday night or a further extension of the lockdown. At the press briefing yesterday, the Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, said the lockdown is still in full force and that it is only the Federal Government that can lift the lockdown order.
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has not relaxed any lockdown. The lockdown is still on and we appeal to Lagosians to continue to obey the directive to continue to be responsible because that is the only way the experts have said we can fight this disease.
The lockdown is still on. If it is going to be extended or relaxed, it is the business of the Federal Government. The announcement is not going to be made by Babajide Sanwo-Olu because he did not impose it in the first place,” he clarified.
the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, urges Christians to have a sober reflection.
Badejo told the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan on Friday that the present situation of things in the world called for an urgent need for humanity to return to God.
Notre Dame, France.
Amid a strict lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris rose from the ashes, temporarily, this Good Friday by opening to a tiny group of people for Easter.
Just days before the first anniversary of the April 15, 2019 inferno that ravaged the beloved Paris landmark, the French capital’s archbishop led Good Friday celebrations unlike any others that have gone before inside the centuries-old jewel of Gothic architecture.
United States of America.
In the USA, many businesses and churches closed against the overly ambitious goal set by President Donald Trump who set Easter Sunday as a “beautiful” target date for the U.S. to get back to business, with “packed churches all over our country”.
U.S. stock markets were closed Friday, April 10 in observance of Good Friday.
The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will resume normal trading hours on Monday.
The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommended the U.S. bond market close Friday. It also advised that the bond market shutter early on Thursday, April 9 at 2 p.m. Eastern.
U.S. commodities markets including gold and oil futures also won’t be open for trading Friday.
Stock markets in Europe will close on Good Friday and on Monday in observance of Easter.
Fish and chips good friday.
A lengthy afternoon queue for fish and chips is usually a Good Friday staple but the novel coronavirus circumstances dictate that things will be a little bit different this year.
Some of the North East’s favourite fish and chip shops have decided to close altogether during the coronavirus lockdown, including Colmans in South Shields and The Harbour View in Seaton Sluice.
But there are fish bars offering delivery, pre-order collection services, or both, to keep the Good Friday tradition going during the pandemic.
While delivery is not an entirely new concept for chippies, many did not offer it before the lockdown – often as they did not need to due to regular takeaway queues.
More Updates to follow…
