Philadelphia Archdiocese Cancels Easter Sunday, Holy Week Masses

PHILADELPHIA, PA — All Holy Week and Easter Sunday masses have been canceled in the Philadelphia Archdiocese due to coronavirus.

The news comes days after President Trump announced Easter as the date by which he wanted the country "opened up."

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All public masses have been canceled since March 17 in the Archdiocese.

Priests continue to hold masses via livestream and in some select settings, like nursing homes, "depending on local restrictions," according to the archdiocese.

Churches, however, remain open for individuals to go and pray, on modified hours.

This comes after Gov. Wolf ordered all "non-life-essential" businesses to shut down, and issued a "stay at home" order that prohibits most activities.

Coronavirus cases exceeded 1,000 in Pennsylvania on Wednesday morning, with the number of positive cases rising to 1,127. There have now been 11 deaths in the state.