Millions of people around the world are celebrating Catholic Easter this weekend, most under strict restrictions, for the second time since the pandemic began, although immunization campaigns are accelerating, as in the US where more than 100 million people have already done at least one dose of the vaccine.
In Europe, swept by the third wave of Covid-19, all of Italy has been designated a “red zone”. This Easter, which is usually an opportunity for families to meet and celebrate together, the measures remain in place.
“We have no restaurants, we have no tourists, we have no one,” protested a vegetable seller at the Cabo de Fiori market in central Rome. In a short distance, in Navone Square, which is usually crowded at such times, very few people have taken their dog for a walk or cycling.
However, Italians have been allowed to travel abroad and some are preparing to go on holiday. “I consider it absurd to be able to travel to Europe but not to Italy, with all these precautions we have taken, with the tests we do and the certificates they ask us for,” commented Tina Epifani, a 46-year-old woman who left Milan airport for the Canary Islands.
In the empty square of Agios Petros, Pope Francis performed the second Street of the Cross late on Friday night without the participation of the public, only in the presence of some children.
The French for their part can travel across the country this weekend. From Tuesday, travel will be banned again, for one month. The authorities will show tolerance until Monday night in the movements between different regions, so that those who can and want it can take their children to their grandparents.
At Montparnasse Station, which connects Paris with western and southwestern France, Marilyn Morel was preparing to leave for the Ede, in the French Basque Country, with her husband and children to stay in a country house with garden, overlooking the Atlantic. “We bought the tickets at 8 on Wednesday night, immediately after the announcement” of the new restrictive measures, he explained.
The rest of Europe is also stepping up measures to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, especially through travel: Germany, for example, will step up controls at its land borders over the next 8-14 days.
Resurrection in Jerusalem without Lockdown
In the Middle East, Lebanon has been in full swing from today until Tuesday morning, in an effort not to rekindle the pandemic in this country of 6 million people.
In Jerusalem, by contrast, Christians said they felt “alive”: hundreds of worshipers gathered on the pavements of the Old City on Good Friday. “It’s so, so much better than last year,” said Angel Pernesita, a domestic helper who has lived in Israel for 10 years and last year watched Holy Week online.
In Latin America, where confirmed cases of Covid-19 exceeded 25 million on Friday, many countries have stepped up restrictions. In Chile, almost 90% of the population has been locked up for almost a week. It was announced on Thursday that the border will remain closed throughout April. Bolivia has also closed its border with Brazil for at least a week, while in Peru the lockdown is in effect for the Easter weekend.
In Brazil, where the pandemic seems to be out of control, the municipality of Rio de Janeiro has announced that measures are being extended. In Sao Paulo, one of the worst-hit states, cemeteries are now open overnight due to the high death toll from Covid-19.
According to a count of the French Agency, from the end of December 2019 until today the pandemic has killed more than 2,829,051 people worldwide.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
