Notre Dame Cathedral repair work to restart despite coronavirus pandemic

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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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.

Cox Media Group