Sabah churches change Ash Wednesday norm due to Covid-19

Church wardens and the priest sprinkling ash on the thousands of Catholics’ heads during Ash Wednesday mass.

KOTA KINABALU: Catholic churches in Sabah have opted to sprinkle the ashes on church-goers heads instead of drawing a cross on their foreheads during this year's Ash Wednesday mass.

The deviation from the usual practice, according to the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish priest Father Paul Lo, is to reduce the risk of spreading diseases by eliminating any physical contact when applying the ash, especially during the current Covid-19 outbreak.