Coronavirus damages the Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem and elsewhere

Similar scenes have been repeated around the world as Christmas family gatherings and packed prayers that usually mark the holidays have been revoked or canceled altogether. .

In Australia, worshipers had to book tickets online to attend remote church services. Pope Francis was ready to celebrate Mass in a near-empty service in the Vatican in the early evening, hours before a curfew was held in Italy.

Other outbreaks elsewhere in Europe have been severely canceled or stopped as viral infections have spread across the continent and a new and potentially more contagious variety has been discovered.

Thousands of truck drivers and passengers were trapped in a large lump at the British port of Dover on Christmas Eve, sustained from crossing into France by slowly delivering coronavirus tests that required French authorities.

In Bethlehem, officials tried to make the most of a bad situation.

“Christmas is a holiday that will renew hope in the souls,” said Mayor Anton Salman. “Despite all the obstacles and challenges posed by coronavirus and the lack of tourism, the city of Bethlehem is still looking to the future with optimism and celebrating Christmas in all human and religious senses. “

Rough, wet weather added to the gloomy atmosphere, when dozens of people gathered in Central Manger Square to welcome the Latin Patriarch, the leading Catholic cleric in the Holy Land. Youth marching bands played Christmas carols on bagpipes, along with pound drums, leading a procession before the patriarch arrived in the early evening.

Thousands of foreign pilgrims usually come to Bethlehem to celebrate. But when Israel’s international airport closed to foreign visitors tourists stayed away this year. Last week the Palestinian Authority banned international travel in the areas it administers in the West Bank, keeping even Palestinian visitors away.

The restrictions restricted the attendance of dozens of residents and small entrants of religious officials. Evening ceremonies, when pilgrims usually gather around the Christmas tree, were postponed, and midnight celebrations were limited to clergy. The 85-year-old Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who usually attends the solemn event, said he would not take part.

The coronavirus has dealt a heavy blow to the Bethlehem tourism sector, the lifeblood of the local economy. Restaurants, hotels and gift shops were closed.

“Bethlehem has such a wonderful Christmas atmosphere,” said Bethlehem resident Balqees Qumsieh. “This year everything will be different.”

Elsewhere, there have been few holidays for Thailand that relied on tourism, as the country is plagued with an unexpected spike in virus cases, despite strict border controls. prevented travelers from entering the kingdom.

The Christmas and New Year holidays are usually the main season for tropical country hotels, restaurants, bars and often smarter entertainment venues. Many of these businesses have decided that it is not worth opening or going out of business.

Shopping malls that cater heavily to foreign tourists are putting up a brave face, picking up fake Christmas trees. Some hotels that have remained open are offering their usual buffets for residential expats and members of Thailand’s silver elite.

But any hopes of a return to normalcy were dashed a few days ago when the country registered a new collection of more than 1,000 cases. Authorities responded by announcing new restrictions on Bangkok and other areas that included the abolition of New Year’s Eve celebrations.

So far Australians had been looking forward to a relatively COVID-19-free Christmas after travel restrictions across state borders rested a few weeks ago with no evidence of community outbreak. But holiday plans were thrown into chaos when three cases were discovered in December. 17 new groups have emerged in northern Sydney. As more cases were discovered, states closed their borders again.

Peta Johnson, who lived in northern Queensland, had been preparing to welcome her father who was recently a widow from Sydney. Travel restrictions have postponed the trip until February.

“He is completely heartbroken because he wants to spend some time with us and a break from Sydney and all that has been going on,” she said.

Churches across the country were urging worshipers to reserve tickets for services. Brett Mendez, who is strongly in favor of the Archbishop of Perth, St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral would limit services to 650 worshipers, just over half the standard.

While many places around the globe maintained or increased restrictions for Christmas, Lebanon was an exception. With his economy in tattoos and parts of his capital ruined by a great August. 4 port explosion, Lebanon has taken most of the virus measures ahead of the holidays, hoping to encourage consumption. Tens of thousands of Lebanese expatriates have arrived home for the holidays, leading to fears of an inevitable rise in affairs at Christmas time.

Lebanon has the largest percentage of Christians in the Middle East – around a third of its 5 million people – and traditionally celebrates Christmas with much waiting.

But even with restrictions at rest, a real economic crisis was pouring gloom over the holidays this year. The streets of Beirut, traditionally lit by Christmas lights, are all the more crowded. Shops may have new products, but not many people buy

A large Christmas tree in central Beirut is decorated with firefighters’ uniforms in memory of those who died in the port’s explosion. Another tree represents the old Beirut houses destroyed in the explosion.

“The people around us were tired, depressed and depressed, so we just said a plant of joy and love,” said Sevine Ariss, one of the organizers of a Christmas celebration on the sea road where the explosion did the most damage.