Is it safe to attend Christmas Mass as COVID surges? NJ health experts weigh in

Just when it seemed like life could approach some semblance of normalcy, COVID has come roaring back, casting a shadow over Christmas services for millions in New Jersey. 

The rapid surge of the highly contagious omicron variant had local health experts offering blunt advice Wednesday: Stay away from crowded Christmas Masses and holiday parties this weekend. 

"If people are going to gather in places of worship, they should be prepared for the fact that they will be exposed to the variant," said Perry Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health. He's canceling his own family gathering out of an abundance of caution, he added. 

Worshippers should be encouraged to attend services virtually and people who gather indoors should wear masks, added Deborah Visconi, CEO at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus. 

"This is spreading like wildfire," she said about the COVID-19 variant. "This is a nasty virus with long-term effects, even if it seems like it's mild."

Whether millions of New Jerseyans will follow that advice remains to be seen. It's been two years since Christians were able to celebrate the Christmas season normally. New Jersey's five Catholic dioceses urged parishioners to be cautious this week, but services will go forward, with face masks officially encouraged but not required for celebrants and attendees. 

New Jersey announced 9,711 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, by far the biggest one-day total during the pandemic. Hospitalizations are rising as well, though not as fast — a sign, health officials say, that vaccines are still doing their job. Early cases have suggested omicron may produce less virulent symptoms than previous variants, but officials caution that it's too soon to know for sure. 

Some houses of worship announced that they were shifting to online services or implementing tighter restrictions in light of the rising numbers.  

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Episcopal church in upper Manhattan, said it would hold Christmas services online and cancel in-person celebration. "As the Cathedral has done before, placing the needs and concerns of the wider community first is crucial,"  a message on its website explained. 

In Washington, D.C., the National Cathedral canceled a family Christmas service planned for Thursday "due to large numbers of potentially unvaccinated children." Other events, including a Christmas Eve Eucharist, will go on as planned, but masks will now be required at all indoor events, the church said. 

In Newark, the Old First Presbyterian Church said it will limit capacity and also require masks for all, even those already vaccinated. In Maplewood, St. George's Episcopal Church will offer outdoor services as well as a livestreamed event. In addition, church leaders have asked the congregation at the indoor service to limit singing.

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St. John the Evangelist in Bergenfield has canceled its Christmas and New Year's parties, said church bookkeeper Malu Canlas. But Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will go on as scheduled. 

Nina Nicholson, a spokeswoman for the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, said some diocese churches are asking in-person attendees to preregister online for church services so congregations can limit attendance. Others are reducing or eliminating singing. 

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, which covers Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties, is not implementing new guidelines for Christmas at this time, said spokeswoman Maria Margiotta.

"Currently, masking is optional, but strongly recommended for those who are not vaccinated and for those who are at high risk," she said in an email. "The Archdiocese of Newark will continue to monitor evolving CDC guidance as well as state mandates, which are subject to revision."

In a statement to local Catholics on its website, the diocese warned that social distancing may be difficult at high-volume Christmas Masses. Parishioners could be encouraged to attend Christmas Masses that normally have lighter attendance.

Gov. Phil Murphy, in a tweet this week, urged New Jerseyans to get vaccinated, boosted and tested for COVID before Christmas, noting there are more than 100 free testing sites around the state. That was easier said than done, however, with long lines and delays at many locations. 

Those who are vaccinated and boosted are less likely to become extremely ill, said Halkitis, the Rutgers dean. But he warned that it's too soon to know just how dangerous the highly transmissible omicron variant can be. 

Jerry Zuckerman, vice president of infection prevention and control at Hackensack Meridian Health, said, "Masking is still one of the most effective things we can do to prevent transmission. If it was my congregation, I would hope everyone would be wearing one." 

Even if individual risks from omicron prove low, religious services can act as a bridge to help spread it to more vulnerable populations, health experts warned. There's growing concern about overburdening the health care system and whether it's equipped to deal with a flood of patients who may show up to the emergency room requiring care, said Halkitis.

"People need to be cautious and avoid large gatherings. They should try to attend church virtually. They should not get together with their families," he said. 

He urged people to "dig deeper" during the holiday season and consider the most vulnerable part of the population. "Taking care of the people you love" is the best Christmas gift, he said.  

Email: yellin@northjersey.com 

Twitter: @deenayellin