The toned-down celebrations came as the pandemic looked to continue into 2022.
Only a few thousand people flocked to a rain-soaked St. Peters Square for Francis annual Urbi et Orbi address.Christmas has been marked around the world amid a surge in COVID-19 infections that kept families apart, overwhelmed hospitals and curbed religious observances.Yet, there were homilies of hope, as vaccines and other treatments become more available.Read MoreWhile wealthy countries have inoculated as much as 90 per cent of their adult populations, 8.
"Open hearts to ensure that necessary medical care - and vaccines in particular - are provided to those peoples who need them most."In the United States, many churches cancelled in-person services, but for those that did have in-person worship, clerics reported smaller but significant attendance. "Although it's a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones,'' the Queen said in the pre-recorded message broadcast when many British families were enjoying their traditional Christmas dinner.The coronavirus booster program continued across the UK on Christmas Day.Thousands of people across Britain got a vaccine booster shot for Christmas as new cases hit another daily record of 122,186.
"We're sick of this," said Dr Julien Carvelli, the ICU chief at La Timone Hospital, as his team spent another Christmas Eve tending to COVID-19 patients on breathing machines.Thousands of Australians spend Christmas in isolation as Omicron cases swell He was happy many Filipinos could celebrate Christmas more safely after COVID-19 cases dropped, but he pleaded: "Please don't forget us."Source:COVID-19 testing continued unimpeded in some places, while other sites closed for the day.
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