Covid hit hard at the Synod of Bishops underway at the Vatican. In the Paul VI Audience Hall, where there was the presentation of the "Instrumentum laboris", there were 346 participants, compared to the total 464. The Secretary General, Cardinal Mario Grech, explained that the 118 absentees are COVID-19 positive. Hence the call to use "safety measures" such as masks and hand sanitization. Grech stressed, however, that "there are no alarms"."However, we can take the right precautions, such as sanitizing hands often or even wearing a mask for those who are older or with fragile health," Grech concluded. Pope Francis, however, did not attend the Synod's General Congregation due to "unforeseen commitments", said Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni.
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