Easter services held in empty churches due to Coronavirus

Bucharest was a deserted city on Saturday night as priests held a religious service in the Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral without any attendees. Priests accompanied by volunteers distributed the Holy Fire to those participating in religious celebrations in the week leading to the Orthodox Easter.

Bucharest: Romania celebrated Easter despite closed churches and amid restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bucharest was a deserted city on Saturday night as priests held a religious service in the Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral without any attendees.

In the small town of Baicoi, about 90 kilometres (56 miles) north of Bucharest, priests accompanied by volunteers distributed the Holy Fire to those participating in religious celebrations in the week leading to the Orthodox Easter, within the constraints of the restrictions imposed by the government.

With police and army checkpoints on national roads as well as most of the boulevards in cities across Romania, the faithful listened to the religious services either on television or through the church's loudspeakers.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.

(With inputs from AP)