Notre Dame Cathedral repair work to restart despite coronavirus pandemic
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
PARIS — Reconstruction of the Notre Dame Cathedral had been delayed, but now is set to resume.
It’s been just over a year since a massive fire damaged the iconic Paris landmark.
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Firefighters tackle the blaze as flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, April 15, 2019. Thibault Camus/AP
Firefighters tackle the blaze as flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, April 15, 2019. Thibault Camus/AP
Flames rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. (AP/Thibault Camus)
Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site. (FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images)
Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site. (FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images)
Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris. (PIERRE GALY/AFP/Getty Images)
Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris. (PIERRE GALY/AFP/Getty Images)
Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site. (FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images)
Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site. (FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images)
Flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. (FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images)
Flames rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Plumes of smoke rises from Notre Dame cathedral burning in Paris. Massive plumes of smoke fills the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is reported to be falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. (AP Photo)
Notre Dame cathedral is burning in Paris. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. (AP Photo/Lori Hinant)
Notre Dame cathedral is burning in Paris, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. (AP Photo)
People watch as flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
People watch as flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Flames rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Locator Map for Notre Dame Fire. (d.allen/AP)
People watch Notre Dame cathedral burning in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Lori Hinnant)
People watch Notre Dame cathedral burning in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Oleg Cetinic)
Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Firefighters tackle the blaze as flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019.. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Work had stopped in mid-March when French officials put the country into lockdown. But Monday, workers were on-site getting everything ready to resume work on saving and repairing the centuries-old cathedral, The Associated Press reported.
The work will be done in a virus-safe environment, government officials said.
Showers and changing rooms are being rearranged and a lunchroom is also being added since all restaurants in the country are closed, the cathedral’s rector told reporters, the AP reported.
Face masks and hand gel will also be given to workers, the BBC reported.
Workers will also be staying in nearby hotels that currently are vacant so they do not have to take public transportation.
Right now, workers are just preparing for the restoration work which is expected to start slowly next week. Crews have to take down scaffolding that had been installed before the fire, the AP reported.
It is not only the coronavirus that has slowed down work on the church. Winter weather and lead released by the fire have delayed the schedule, the BBC reported.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the church would be restored within five years, the BBC reported.
Officials hope to have Notre Dame Cathedral done by 2024 when Paris hosts the Olympic games, the AP reported.
Notre Dame A worker cleans around the Notre Dame Cathedral during nationwide confinement measures to counter the Covid-19, in Paris, Monday, April 27, 2020. Work began Monday to refit the construction site at fire-damaged Notre Dame Cathedral to protect workers from the virus and allow cleanup efforts to resume. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (Thibault Camus/AP)
