MACAU (UCAN): Churches in Macau reopened on August 18 after closing on August 5 after a family of four tested positive for the highly contagious Delta variant of the Covid-19 coronavirus [SARS-CoV-2] earlier in the month.
For the second time since last year, life in the city came to a standstill as businesses closed down. The government launched a mass testing campaign for about 700,000 residents by setting up 42 nucleic acid testing centers across the city. The two-week break dealt a further blow to the economy, which largely relies on gambling and tourism, Bloomberg reported.
In an August 16 statement, the government of Macau declared the reopening of casinos and other venues including theatres, indoor amusement parks, game arcades, beauty salons, karaoke parlors and nightclubs from August 18.
“All churches and Mass centres in the diocese will resume public Masses, liturgies and gatherings. Personnel in charge of religious houses and old age homes may allow the faithful to join their in-house liturgy as appropriate,” said an official circular from Father Cyril Jerome Law, chancellor of the Diocese of Macau, on August 16.
Weekday and Sunday live Mass broadcasts are slated to continue temporarily or may be adjusted or canceled as necessary, the notice added.
Places of worship were first closed in January 2020 when the first wave of the pandemic hit the island.
Macau has recorded 63 cases but no deaths from Covid-19 so far, according to government data.
