Vatican is sanitised and temperatures will be checked before Sunday Mass in bid to control Covid-19

The Vatican was sanitised by men wearing protective overalls ahead of masses restarting next week, as it revealed it will test the temperatures of the faithful before Sunday Mass to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Men wearing protective overalls and masks were seen sanitising St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican today. Workers sanitised all the statues in the basilica, including beneath the baroque sculpted bronze canopy of St. Peter’s Baldachin. 

This comes as part of preparations for liturgical celebrations restarting on Monday 18 May for the first time since the two-month lockdown in Italy. 

The Vatican was sanitised by men wearing protective overalls this morning after it revealed it will test the temperatures of the faithful before Sunday Mass to curb the spread of coronavirus

Men wearing protective overalls and masks were seen sanitising St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on May 15 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured, a man drives a floor cleaning machine

Men wearing protective overalls and masks were seen sanitising St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on May 15 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured, a man drives a floor cleaning machine

The hygiene measures were announced on Thursday ahead of liturgical celebrations restarting and applies to the Vatican's four Roman basilicas - including St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City

The hygiene measures were announced on Thursday ahead of liturgical celebrations restarting and applies to the Vatican’s four Roman basilicas – including St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City

Public Masses were banned as part of the initial coronavirus lockdown measures on March 10, a decision that caused fury among the country's Catholic population

Public Masses were banned as part of the initial coronavirus lockdown measures on March 10, a decision that caused fury among the country’s Catholic population

The Vatican will conduct temperature checks will at least on Sundays and feast days when larger crowds are expected in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as masses restart

The Vatican will conduct temperature checks will at least on Sundays and feast days when larger crowds are expected in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as masses restart

The Vatican also revealed it is planning to check the temperatures of the faithful before they enter its basilicas for Sunday Mass in new hygiene measures.

The measures apply to the Vatican’s four Roman basilicas – including St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. 

The temperature checks will at least occur on Sundays and feast days when larger crowds are expected. 

The regulations are even more stringent than those adopted by Italian bishops for ordinary parishes around the country.

It prohibits anyone with a fever or who has been in contact with a COVID-19 patient from attending Mass.

Public Masses were banned as part of the initial coronavirus lockdown measures on March 10, a decision that caused fury among the country’s Catholic population. 

The bishops told the government they could ‘not accept seeing the exercise of freedom of religion being compromised’. Most of Italy’s churches have remained open during the crisis, but only for individual prayer.  

The Vatican's safety measures are even more strict than at parish churches, which will resume public masses on Monday, following a detailed hygiene and security protocol that prohibits anyone with a fever or who has been in contact with a COVID-19 patient from attending Mass

The Vatican’s safety measures are even more strict than at parish churches, which will resume public masses on Monday, following a detailed hygiene and security protocol that prohibits anyone with a fever or who has been in contact with a COVID-19 patient from attending Mass

Churches will restart mass across the nation from May 18 as Italy has set out steps to ease social distancing measures and as it enters 'phase two' of its lockdown exit plan, which sees people allowed outside their homes

Churches will restart mass across the nation from May 18 as Italy has set out steps to ease social distancing measures and as it enters ‘phase two’ of its lockdown exit plan, which sees people allowed outside their homes

Men wearing protective overalls and masks spray sanitiser on the famous marble cherubs during the sanitation of St. Peter's Basilica during deep clean

Men wearing protective overalls and masks spray sanitiser on the famous marble cherubs during the sanitation of St. Peter’s Basilica during deep clean 

Workers in protective gear sanitise beneath the baroque sculpted bronze canopy of St. Peter's Baldachin inside St. Peter's Basilica

A worker in protective gear sanitises beneath the baroque sculpted bronze canopy of St. Peter's Baldachin inside St. Peter's Basilica

Workers in protective gear were seen sanitising beneath the baroque sculpted bronze canopy of St. Peter’s Baldachin inside St. Peter’s Basilica as the Vatican underwent a lengthy cleaning process ahead of masses restarting

The Vatican also revealed it is planning to check the temperatures of the faithful before they enter its basilicas for Sunday Mass in new hygiene measures. Pictured, a floor cleaning machine is used in St Peter's Basilica

The Vatican also revealed it is planning to check the temperatures of the faithful before they enter its basilicas for Sunday Mass in new hygiene measures. Pictured, a floor cleaning machine is used in St Peter’s Basilica 

Masses for the public can resume on May 18 but under strict conditions outlined in a protocol signed by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, president of the Italian Bishops Conference.  

The Vatican hasn’t said when Pope Francis would preside over his first post-lockdown celebration in St. Peter’s, but it has agreed with the prelates who run its basilicas to adopt necessary safety guarantees. 

But the Pope appeared at the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae in the Vatican to conduct a private and livestreamed mass on May 14. 

During the mass, the Pope called for believers of every religion to call on God for mercy during the pandemic.

He joined other religious leaders in marking May 14 as a day of prayer, fasting and acts of charity to ask God to stop the coronavirus pandemic.   

Pope Francis holding the Holy Bread while celebrating the Eucharist during a private and live broadcast morning mass at the chapel of his Santa Marta residence in The Vatican

Pope Francis holding the Holy Bread while celebrating the Eucharist during a private and live broadcast morning mass at the chapel of his Santa Marta residence in The Vatican

Italy has reported 223,096 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 31,368 fatalities, according to official figures. Pictured, men walk through the basilica during the sanitation process

Italy has reported 223,096 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 31,368 fatalities, according to official figures. Pictured, men walk through the basilica during the sanitation process 

Pope Francis joined other religious leaders in marking May 14 as a day of prayer, fasting and acts of charity to ask God to stop the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured, the area around St Peter's statue is cleaned

Pope Francis joined other religious leaders in marking May 14 as a day of prayer, fasting and acts of charity to ask God to stop the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured, the area around St Peter’s statue is cleaned

Laws which had forbidden Italians from leaving their houses without permits and restricted shopping to supermarkets were eased on Monday May 4, allowing for people to travel within their regions and for markets to reopen

Laws which had forbidden Italians from leaving their houses without permits and restricted shopping to supermarkets were eased on Monday May 4, allowing for people to travel within their regions and for markets to reopen

The Vatican hasn't said when Pope Francis would preside over his first post-lockdown celebration in St. Peter's, but it has agreed with the prelates who run its basilicas to adopt necessary safety guarantees

The Vatican hasn’t said when Pope Francis would preside over his first post-lockdown celebration in St. Peter’s, but it has agreed with the prelates who run its basilicas to adopt necessary safety guarantees 

Workers sanitise St Peter's Basilica after Italy partially lifted lockdown last week and churches are set to reopen

Most of Italy's churches have remained open during the crisis, but only for individual prayer. Pictured, A worker in protective gear sanitises the statue of St. Peter

The bishops told the government they could ‘not accept seeing the exercise of freedom of religion being compromised’ when churches were closed during lockdown. Most of Italy’s churches have remained open during the crisis, but only for individual prayer

‘We are all united as human beings, as brothers and sisters, praying to God each according to our own culture, traditions and beliefs, but brothers and sisters praying to God.

‘This is important: brothers and sisters fasting, asking God to pardon our sins so that the Lord would have mercy on us, that the Lord would forgive us, that the Lord would stop this pandemic,’ he said according to Crux.

Italy has reported 223,096 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 31,368 fatalities, according to official figures. 

The country has set out strict steps to ease social distancing measures and the nation is now entering ‘phase two’ of its lockdown exit plan.

Laws which had forbidden Italians from leaving their houses without permits and restricted shopping to supermarkets were eased on Monday May 4, allowing for people to travel within their regions and for markets to reopen.  

It was the first European country to be hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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