The world is preparing for a second Christmas pandemic – South West

In Bethlehem, where Jesus was born according to Christians, the hotel industry which was expecting an influx of tourists shows its disappointment. After almost total containment last year, Israel has again closed the borders. As in 2020, midnight mass will be reserved there for a small circle of faithful, by invitation only.

The procession, led by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, is expected to attract more people than last year thanks to more flexible restrictions.

In the Vatican, thousands of people are expected on Friday for the traditional Christmas mass presided over by Pope Francis at 7:30 p.m. (6.30 p.m. GMT) in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, compared to 200 last year. The Sovereign Pontiff will deliver his eighth Urbi et Orbi blessing the next day at 12:00 p.m. (11:00 GMT) from St. Peter’s Square.

Shows and canceled flights

Elsewhere in the world, even with the Netherlands on lockdown, Broadway canceled Christmas shows, and Spain reintroducing the mandatory outdoor mask, gatherings will generally be easier than last year.

Millions of Americans are preparing to cross their country, even though the Omicron wave already exceeds the peak of the Delta variant and hospitals are running out of beds. The journeys could prove complicated for many of them, with the main company, United, having announced the cancellation of 120 flights due to the impact of the infections on its staff.

Most Australians can once again travel within the country, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, reinforcing the Christmas spirit in a country which is yet experiencing a record number of contaminations. “We have all witnessed moving scenes of people finding themselves in airports after months of separation,” greeted the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, in his Christmas message. “In such a dark time, Christmas is a ray of sunshine, a fragment of hope”.

Offer vaccination

For British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a vaccination certificate would be the most beautiful effect at the foot of the tree. “While the time to buy gifts is theoretically running out, there is still one wonderful thing you can give to your family and to the whole country, and that is to get that dose, whether it be your first or your second, or your encore, so that next year’s festivities are even better than this year’s, ”he said.

In Moscow, in the midst of tension with Western countries over Ukraine, Vladimir Putin asked Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost, local version of Santa Claus) to help Russia carry out its projects. “I hope that he will not only bring us gifts, but that he will also carry out the projects of the country and of each citizen,” said the Russian president.

After the hope of freedoms regained thanks to vaccination, the appearance of the highly contagious variant Omicron has darkened the atmosphere in homes.

Airspaces open to sledges

But border closures and restrictions will not prevent a famous sleigh pulled by reindeer from traveling the globe, Canadian airspace having been opened to it, after presentation of a vaccination certificate and a negative Covid test. This was assured by the Minister of Transport in Ottawa, giving a green light to the crew, even to Rudolph whose “nose was shining brightly (but) made sure he had no symptoms. of Covid-19 before taking off ”.

Same thoughtfulness on the Australian side: “Our air traffic controllers will guide Santa Claus safely through Australian airspace, using our surveillance technology to track him twice per second,” the Air Safety Authority said. “He is allowed to fly at 500 feet so he can graze the rooftops and deliver his gifts quickly and discreetly. After all, his magic sled is no ordinary plane. “