海角大神

David Halls isn鈥檛 a doctor, nurse, or ambulance driver, but he wanted to contribute in the fight against COVID-19. So he did what he does best: He sat down on the bench beside at Salisbury Cathedral鈥檚 historic organ and began to play.

Mr. Halls is one of the many people who have turned the 800-year-old cathedral in southwestern England into a mass vaccination center as the U.K. races to inoculate 50 million people. His contribution to the effort is offering a bit of Bach, Handel, and even a little Rodgers & Hammerstein to the public as they shuffle through the nave to get their shots.

鈥淎t times of crisis, people come together and want to listen to music; at moments of joy, people want to listen to music,鈥欌�� Mr. Halls, the cathedral鈥檚 music director, told The Associated Press. 鈥淎nd so I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 any surprise the effect of soothing music on people who probably are feeling quite stressed for various reasons.鈥�

Salisbury Cathedral, home to one of the best preserved copies of the Magna Carta and England鈥檚 tallest church spire, has been enlisted as a vaccination center as the government expands its shot program to soccer stadiums, convention centers, and hundreds of local doctors offices to speed delivery.

Hundreds of elderly residents have rolled up their sleeves and got their shots in the great nave, which is big enough to gather people together while also keeping them safely apart.

It鈥檚 in stark contrast to 1627, when church leaders locked the cathedral gates to keep townspeople out as plague swept through Salisbury. Canon Nicholas Papadopulos, dean of the cathedral, says he reflected on that episode with 鈥渧isceral discomfort鈥� last year when he celebrated the building鈥檚 800th anniversary.

Now, it鈥檚 time for a new chapter.

鈥淚f these stones could speak, they would talk about moments of incredible joy and moments of incredible sadness,鈥� Mr. Halls said. 鈥淚t feels thoroughly appropriate that the cathedral is playing its part in trying to turn things around and to be part of the vaccinations ... To be part of that is such a privilege, such an honor.鈥�

The United Kingdom plans to offer a first dose of vaccine to more than 15 million people by mid-February as it targets the country鈥檚 oldest and most vulnerable residents in the program鈥檚 first phase. Progressively younger groups of people will follow suit, with the government planning to reach everyone over 18 by September.

The need is urgent. Britain鈥檚 healthcare system is staggering as doctors and nurses battle a more contagious variant of COVID-19.

While new infections appear to have peaked, the number of people hospitalized is still rising. More than 39,000 patients are being treated in U.K. hospitals, 80% more than during the first peak of the pandemic last April. Britain has reported 93,463 coronavirus-related deaths, more than any other country in Europe and the fifth-highest toll worldwide.

The effort at the cathedral is a community one, involving many. Organists took turns of two hours playing the massive 鈥淔ather Willis鈥欌�� 鈥� making sure to sanitize in between.

John Challenger, Salisbury鈥檚 assistant director of music, said many getting the shots are older people who are isolated and haven鈥檛 been able to hear live music for months.

In addition to playing soothing music, Challenger used his time at the organ to entertain and spark memories by playing songs like Mendelssohn鈥檚 鈥淲edding March.鈥澛�

鈥淎nd in the more frivolous moments, I played 鈥業 Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside,鈥� because, you know, we all want to go on holiday and haven鈥檛 been able to go where we want,鈥� he said.

Among those listening Wednesday was Sylvia Parkin who came with her husband, David. They have had to stay home a lot for the past 10 months, which has been no fun.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a trip out today, isn鈥檛 it?鈥� she said cheerfully. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful place to have an injection.鈥�

And while it may be a long way up to the organ loft, people have managed to get their requests in.

Mr. Halls played Handel鈥檚 鈥淟argo鈥� and Bach鈥檚 鈥淛esu, Joy of Man鈥檚 Desiring鈥� for an elderly neighbor who had sent an email asking for his favorites to be played precisely at 10:45 a.m. during his appointment.

As Mr. Halls finished, he glanced at the screen that shows the organist what鈥檚 happening on the floor below and saw his neighbor frantically waving 鈥� windshield wiper style 鈥� and offering his thanks.

鈥淗e emailed me later and he said that was the best part of his entire life other than his wedding day,鈥� Halls said. 鈥淚 think to come second to that is quite good, actually.鈥�

This story was reported by the Associated Press. Kearney contributed from Salisbury, England.聽

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