Churches announce online streams, other precautions against coronavirus

The Archdiocese of Chicago, along with other Chicago-area churches, will be broadcasting their masses online as the coronavirus continues to spread.

The Archdiocese broadcast their 4 p.m. mass Saturday from Holy Name Cathedral in English, according to a statement from Bishop Ron Hicks to clergy and parish staff. Starting next Saturday, the weekend masses will also be broadcast in Spanish and Polish.

Daily masses will be broadcast from St. James Chapel starting Tuesday, Hicks said.

The Archdiocese is not the only parish to alter their services in the face of coronavirus.

Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Ravenswood will be streaming their Sunday services on Facebook and YouTube, while the Apostolic Faith Church in Bronzeville will encourage worshipers to sit sit every other row, among taking other precautions.

Additionally, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese announced Saturday they would be canceling all liturgies at parishes in the Holy Metropolis of Chicago, as well as all other “in-person activities.”

The Archdiocese announced Friday they were suspending public mass and canceling classes at all its Cook and Lake County schools starting Monday, before a order from Gov. J.B. Pritizker ordered all public and private schools closed through the end of the month.

On Saturday, Pritzker announced that 64 people in Illinois had been confirmed to have the virus, an uptick of 18 cases from the day before.