Taipei, after 45 days of lockdown, Masses with the faithful resume

The archbishop of the city issued some directives: no more than 100 faithful at a time; registration; temperature measurements; hand sanitizers; ‘plum blossom arrangement’ in short alternating; Eucharist followed by the collection of offerings. Taiwan's success in pandemic control: 436 infected and 6 dead.

Taipei (AsiaNews) - After 45 days of lockdown, masses with the people can resume today, according to the Archbishop of Taipei, Mgr. John Hung Shan-chuan.

In his announcement he explains that although the spread of the epidemic "is fairly stable", it is important that the masses follow certain indications of security including the number of participants, the disposition of the faithful, how to receive the Eucharist, how to give make offerings, how to disinfect the place of worship.

The Taiwanese government was among the first to respond to news of the coronavirus epidemic in mainland China. Indeed, according to many testimonies, Taiwanese doctors had warned the World Health Organization already in December 2019 that a virus capable of spreading from man to man was spreading on mainland China.

Perhaps for political reasons - Taiwan is not a member of the WHO - the UN health organization preferred to follow China's command and the announcement of the human-to-human transmission was released only two days before the quarantine imposed on Wuhan (Hubei).

In any case, Taiwan seems to have managed to contain the epidemic. In the past week, Taiwan has recorded only three new cases of infection, bringing the total toll to 436 infected and 6 deaths.

The indications suggested by the archbishop of Taipei on the masses require that for the celebrations indoors there are no more than 100 faithful; reservations are required for each mass by giving your name and surname; for communities with a large number of faithful it is suggested to carry out the masses outdoors and multiply the number to decrease the crowding.

Before entering the church, the faithful must allow for a temperature check, disinfect their hands, and then place themselves in a zigzag ("plum blossom") arrangement in the pews.

Before distributing the Eucharist, the priest must disinfect his hands with alcohol. The collection of offerings takes place as the faithful return to their pews, to avoid too many contact. At the end of each mass the environment will have to be sanitized.