Pope cancels New Year’s Eve Nativity visit over Omicron fears
Italy is combating a surge of COVID-19 cases, with its highest total yet reported on the week ending Dec. 20.
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Italy is combating a surge of COVID-19 cases, with its highest total yet reported on the week ending Dec. 20.
In an attempt to thin crowds amid a wave of Omicron cases, Pope Francis decided to cancel his traditional visit to the life-sized nativity scene in the Vatican City's St. Peter's Square. Instead, the pope will hold his traditional vespers service at St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Eve and a small, private mass on New Year's Day.
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View on RumbleAccording to The Hill, the news "follows mass cancellations of events elsewhere in the world, including firework displays in Paris and the peach drop in Georgia. However, the scaled-back New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square will continue as planned, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) said Thursday."
As it stands, many potential visitors may have a hard time even reaching international destinations. Currently, among many other business sectors, the airline industry is experiencing acute staff shortages, and airlines the world over are having to cancel and postpone flights.
The Omicron variant of COVID-19, according to preliminary research, is more and more starting to resemble a common cold. Dr. Anthony Fauci also said that the Omicron variant appears to be less severe than the Delta variant.
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