Priest pours holy water over road to ‘protect city against coronavirus’

This is the bizarre moment a priest performs blessings and douses holy water on streets in a Russian city to "fight the coronavirus pandemic".

Russian priests were sent to Svaliava Raion in the south-western Russian region of Zakarpattia Oblast, to carry out the service in desperate bids to protect the citizens against coronavirus.

Footage taken by residents shows the priest standing on the back of a black pickup truck and sprinkles holy water to both sides of the street.

Meanwhile, another priest is seen ringing a bell as he delivers blessings on the deserted street.

The video, which has garnered nearly 60,000 views on YouTube, came after the Ukrainian government imposed restrictions on movement on March 12 which banned gatherings of more than 200 people.

Sporting events are currently going ahead behind closed doors and only with the permission of international bodies.

The first confirmed case of coronavirus in Ukraine took place on March 3 after an unnamed man returned from visiting Italy.

The country’s first fatality, a 71-year-old woman, was reported on March 13 in Zhitomir Oblast of northern Ukraine.

Another woman had succumbed to the virus last Monday before her Covid-19 test results were ready.

So far, they are the only reported deaths in the country.

As of today, there have been over 341,000 confirmed coronavirus cases around the world, 14,760 deaths and nearly 99,000 recoveries.

Last week, a Greek priest has been slammed for giving out wine to worshippers from the same spoon.

The incident, which was live-streamed on television, captured people queuing up to the priest and sipping wine in a communion service during mass.

The Church denied of spreading coronavirus and claimed that the holy cup "is blessed and cannot carry disease".

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