Story By: Sofija Dizdarevik, Sub-Editor: Alex Cope, Agency: Newsflash
Newsflash/@dobrica.obradovic.5
This is the moment priests in Serbia bless the streets by waving burning incense from the back of a tractor and sprinkling holy water in a foot procession to protect against COVID-19.
Videos of priests on the streets blessing public spaces in Serbia amid the COVID-19 outbreak have been widely circulating on social media.
In one video, a priest is seen on the back of a tractor while recounting prayers and waving incense.
Another clip shows a priest in the city of Kragujevac waving burning incense from inside a van.
Footage also shows priests sprinkling the streets with holy water in a foot procession.
Newsflash/@trikornijum
Netizen ‘NatasaRostovaa’ said: “The irony is, those who claim to be measured are usually the ones who overfill their glass!”
‘Miroslava Mira Kovacevic Donevsk’ commented: “I’m stunned!”
‘Vladimir Sesa’ wrote: “This will save us! Hahaha.”
One resident told local media: “The priest and his assistant came without masks and asked people to kiss the cross which is absolutely irresponsible in this situation.”
“They didn’t disinfect the cross or wash their hands. The priest wasn’t wearing a mask and he went into the homes of people who were mostly over 65 years old.”
To curb the spread of COVID-19, the Serbian government has introduced a curfew between the hours of 5pm and 5am.
As of 26th March, Serbia has reported 384 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and one related death, according to the latest data from the Johns Hopkins University.
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