Live updates: Pope holds Christmas Eve Mass amid Italy surge
Pope Francis has celebrated Christmas Eve Mass before an estimated 2,000 people in St. Peter’s Basilica, going ahead with the service despite the resurgence in COVID-19 cases that has prompted a new vaccine mandate for Vatican employees
December 24, 2021, 8:00 PM
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Plus, Thursday is expected to be the busiest travel day despite the COVID surge, and tips for working parents on navigating the holiday season.
The Associated PressROME — Pope Francis has celebrated Christmas Eve Mass before an estimated 2,000 people in St. Peter’s Basilica, going ahead with the service despite the resurgence in COVID-19 cases that has prompted a new vaccine mandate for Vatican employees.
A maskless Francis processed down the central aisle of the basilica Friday as the Sistine Chapel choir sang “Noel,” kicking off the Vatican’s Christmas holiday.
For the second day in a row, Italy on Friday set a new pandemic daily record with 50,599 new cases. Another 141 people died, bringing the official death toll to 136,386.
The Vatican secretary of state on Thursday imposed a new vaccine mandate on all Vatican staff, except those who have recovered from the coronavirus. The faithful attending Mass are required to wear masks.
Francis, who is missing part of one lung and had intestinal surgery in July, has largely eschewed masks. He is believed to have received the third booster shot.
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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC:
— Hospitals, police departments struggle to stay staffed as omicron infects workforces
— Fear of infection takes back seat to food insecurity as pandemic pummels African economies
— Coronavirus dampens Christmas joy in biblical Bethlehem
Go to https://APNews.com/coronavirus-pandemic for updates throughout the day.
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING TODAY:
ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has defended her response to the coronavirus, insisting that the state acted early and did all it could against the omicron variant’s rapid spread.
Hochul also told a news conference Friday that the state is shortening the amount of time essential workers must stay home after testing positive.
Fully vaccinated people in health care and other frontline fields can return to work after five days instead of 10 if they’re not showing symptoms or if their symptoms are resolving. They must also wear masks on the job. Some Republican officials have called the mask mandate an overreach.
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HARTFORD, Conn. -- A spokesperson for Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont says a small number of attendees at a recent holiday party hosted by the Democrat and his wife at their Greenwich home have tested positive for COVID-19.
Both Lamont and wife Annie have regularly tested negative for the coronavirus since the Dec. 11 private event. Lamont spokesperson Max Reiss says guests were required to provide proof of being fully vaccinated and present a negative test.
Hearst Connecticut Media reported Thursday that Reiss says the couple get tested regularly and have tested negative in each instance since the party. He did not say how many guests were at the event.
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MIAMI — A COVID-19 outbreak has been recorded on a South Florida-based cruise ship, as the number of coronavirus cases in Florida has hit its second-highest level since the start of the pandemic.
An undisclosed number of passengers and crew aboard the Carnival Freedom caught the virus and the ship was denied entry to Bonaire and Aruba, Carnival said in a statement.
The ship has 2,497 passengers and 1,112 crew members and was scheduled to return to Miami on Sunday following an 8-day cruise. Passengers were required to be vaccinated and they were tested before leaving last Saturday, according to Carnival.
“Carnival Freedom is following all protocols and has a small number on board who are in isolation due to a positive COVID test,” the statement said. “Our protocols anticipate this possibility and we implement them as necessary.”
It was the third outbreak this week affecting cruise ships operated by Carnival and Royal Caribbean departing Miami and Fort Lauderdale ports.
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ISTANBUL — Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is displaying mild symptoms.
The Istanbul-based Patriarchate said Friday that Bartholomew, who is 81 and recently had heart surgery, is fully vaccinated. It added that “his general condition is good.”
The Patriarch has urged people to get their shots and follow the recommendations of doctors.
Bartholomew was hospitalized overnight in the United States in late October and later had a stent installed to open up a clogged coronary artery.
He is considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox patriarchs, which gives him prominence but not the power of a Catholic pope.
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NEW DELHI — India’s Health Ministry says an analysis of 183 omicron variant infections showed that 87 were in fully vaccinated people and three involved individuals who had booster doses.
India has confirmed a total of 358 cases of the omicron variant and 114 of the infected individuals already have recovered, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan told reporters Friday.
He said Asian countries are seeing COVID-19 cases decline overall, unlike in North America and Europe.
