Spain: Madrid church honours virus heroes in nativity scene

A local church in Madrid has opened its annual Nativity scene which this year pays homage to the key workers who have kept Spain on its feet during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using toy figures, the scene includes police officers, street cleaners, airline personnel and hospital workers. The religious NGO Messengers for Peace is behind the initiative.

"They deserve a tribute, we all deserve one but some more than others," said Father Angel from Messengers for Peace.

The chapel attached to the Saint Anthony church is also a collecting point for food donations to give to those in need.

Two police officers who attended the opening spoke of how tough a year it has been for emergency services.

Spain has recorded more than 21,309 new coronavirus infections since Friday and 1.75 million since the beginning of the pandemic, with the 14-day contagion rate climbing up on Monday to 193 cases for every 100,000 residents after weeks coming down.

Authorities have also confirmed 48,013 fatalities for COVID-19 this year, 389 of them since Friday.