Faithful attend Bosnia churches despite lockdown

This has raised fears the authorities in the Serb-run Republika Srpska would turn a blind eye on mass gatherings in churches. Bosnia was put under lockdown more than four weeks ago.

Sarajevo:Religious services were held in several Orthodox Christian churches in Bosnia despite strict social distancing rules imposed by the authorities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Several dozen parishioners were filmed on Thursday attending a communion service in Vasilije Ostroski Church in a Serb-run eastern suburb of Sarajevo.

Cameras captured a priest dipping a spoon into a chalice of blessed wine and giving it to parishioners during the service using the same spoon for everyone.

This has raised fears the authorities in the Serb-run Republika Srpska would turn a blind eye on mass gatherings in churches.

Bosnia was put under lockdown more than four weeks ago.

On Thursday, it registered 1,167 coronavirus infections and 43 deaths.

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)