Eucharistic Congress in Budapest to cause the fourth wave of coronavirus?

Many fear that the International Eucharistic Congress held by Budapest at the beginning of September might push the virus to reappear again, stronger than before.

Hungarians and the country itself are slowly recuperating from the damages done by the global pandemic. People are back to travelling, both locally and internationally, so the country’s tourism can also benefit.

Domestic tourism takes off in Hungary

There is an event, however, that many fear could start the fourth wave of coronavirus.

The International Eucharistic Congress organised in Budapest between September 5 and 12 will be held without any restrictions.

The organisers hope that the event will not be the root of a possible fourth wave hitting the country.

The chance is there, though, as tens of thousands of visitors from almost 70 countries are expected to arrive in Budapest, especially on the last day when the Pope will celebrate a mass.

The number of spectators can even reach up to a hundred thousand on this occasion.

Secretary-General of the Congress Father Kornél Fábry answered the questions posed by Népszava about the organisation and the possible restrictions to protect participants. He said that delaying the congress for an entire year already had caused many difficulties. They hope that the fourth wave will not explode during the congress. However, there will be no special pandemic restrictions, such as the use of masks or distance keeping.

Moreover, pilgrims arriving from every corner of the world will have no obligation to present any document proving their immunity against the virus.

It sounds rather alarming, considering the number of visitors, pilgrims, and all those interested. As DNH previously reported, the Eucharistic Congress on its own asked for almost 5500 spots in several Budapest dormitories for the participants. It does not only mean that pilgrims who do not need to show any certificate proving their immunity will stay in these student buildings, but it also impedes thousands of students to move into their dorm rooms for the first two weeks of the semester.

Father Kornél Fábry said that they had received these dormitory rooms as an offering and added that participants would also find accommodation in parishes and at families. He hopes that university students will not suffer any inconvenience as a result.

We will only see the results about a week after the congress since the virus has a six-seven-day-long incubation period, four days in the case of the new Delta variant. We do have some references, though. The final of this summer’s European Championship was called a “super-spreader” event by health officials. Over five thousand people caught Covid at the football final and semi-finals, highlighted The Telegraph.

Source: nepszava.hu, telegraph.co.uk