The world is ready to celebrate Christmas in a state of blockade

On December 24, the epidemic cast a dark shadow over the Christmas atmosphere around the world as millions were forced to cancel travel plans or limit parties and festivals due to the lockdown imposed by authorities. new to prevent disease.

The world is ready to celebrate Christmas in a state of blockade

After a difficult year of accumulation because the COVID-19 acute respiratory infection pandemic has so far claimed the lives of over 1.7 million people globally, a series of new outbreaks broke out in many parts of the world. A stark reminder that although the COVID-19 vaccination program is urgently deployed, it is difficult for people to quickly return to normal life.

In Europe, most countries are experiencing a “dark” winter because of the re-emergence of the disease. Germany was forced to cancel the organization of its famous Christmas markets. Meanwhile, Pope Francis plans to celebrate Christmas Eve Mass two hours earlier than usual to help attendees (with limited numbers) get home before 10pm – Italy’s curfew.

Meanwhile, the UK is “isolated” from other countries due to the appearance of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2. Dozens of countries have restricted flights to and from the UK. Some countries have temporarily relaxed travel bans with the UK over Christmas, but thousands of people from other European countries are still stuck in the UK.

In the US, more than 1 million people have been vaccinated, but people are still confused about dealing with the COVID-19 epidemic.

In Australia – which is considered a rare “bright spot” in the fight against COVID-19, a new outbreak in the northern area of Sydney has forced the authorities to re-impose restrictive measures. travel and ban all Christmas parties, except for small family gatherings on this occasion.

In the holy city of Bethlehem, Christmas Mass will be held and streamed online, without the faithful participating in person.

In the Philippines, where the majority of the population is Catholic, some people decide to celebrate Christmas alone due to concerns about the risk of COVID-19 infection on public transport and because social distancing regulations make it difficult for people to enjoy Christmas. Traveling becomes expensive and time consuming.

It is expected that New Year’s activities around the world will be less exciting than usual as people in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Austria will continue to live under blockade orders, while Portugal imposes a curfew. strictly on New Year’s Eve. Like most major activities held in 2020, people are advised to stay at home to watch events through the small screen.