Rough surf, strong currents expected on Central Florida beaches this week through Easter weekend
Beach safety teams along the coast of Central Florida are waving the red flag warning that surf and rip currents are extremely strong, and the conditions are expected to stick around through the Spring Break week and Easter weekend.
🐰Show us your Easter pics! The good, the bad, the bunnies
Everything from family photos at church and festive decorated Easter eggs, to #EasterFails like a hilarious bunny video or failed Easter cake attempt we want to see it all. It can be a new or old photo or video. We'll be sharing some of your memories during our newscasts.
4 springtime activities we love at Walt Disney World
The resort is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary celebration, and now is the perfect time to celebrate the season and upcoming Easter holiday. If you plan on visiting, we have uncovered a number of fun activities for families to experience while out exploring the theme parks and nearby resort hotels.
Merkel: 'A quiet Easter' needed to counter rising infections
“There needs to be a quiet Easter festival,” Merkel said in a video address. AdIn contrast, Britain has given one vaccine shot to 46% of its people. Health Minister Jens Spahn said routine vaccinations will begin in doctors' practices on Tuesday, with 35,000 GPs scheduled to receive 940,000 vaccine doses next week. Germany expects to receive about 40 million vaccine doses during the second quarter. AdMerkel, who is 66, says she would be prepared to take the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Madrid slows down vaccine jabs over Easter despite govt plea
People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of coronavirus walk in downtown Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)MADRID – Spain’s Madrid region halted COVID-19 vaccinations Thursday at health centers for four days so medical staff can rest over the Easter holiday, despite pleas from the national government not to halt the fight against surging infections. Health Minister Carolina Darias last week urged regional authorities to keep vaccinating over the Easter break, saying it was “very important” to keep up the inoculation program. Spain, like other European Union nations, has had a surprisingly slow vaccine rollout that authorities blame on vaccine shortages. AdIt also noted that vaccine shots will still be administered at a city hospital and a city soccer stadium over the traditional Easter break.
Holy days arrive for the faithful as pandemic eases in US
For Christians across the United States, Easter services on Sunday will reflect an extra measure of joy as the nation experiences rising optimism after a year of pandemic. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)For Christians across the United States, Easter services on Sunday will reflect an extra measure of joy as the nation experiences rising optimism after a year of pandemic. It’s a season of major holy days for other faiths as well, occurring in a brighter mood than a year ago. Jews are observing Passover this week, and Muslims will enter the holy month of Ramadan in about two weeks. AdDas said he loves the festival because it celebrates diversity: “It acknowledges that we complement each other — different ethnicities, different nationalities, different genders.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay planning lineup of Easter fun
TAMPA, Fla. – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is planning a lineup of fun and special activities for the Easter holiday weekend. The events will be available to guests with park reservations from this Friday through Sunday. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Food & Wine Festival is currently underway. Guests will also get a chance to attend physically-distant concerts and ride the theme park’s world-class attractions. AdUse the form below to sign up for the ClickOrlando.com In the Loop: Theme Park Scoops newsletter, sent every Friday morning.
Afternoon thunderstorms possible in Central Florida; big cooldown on the way
"Thunderstorms off to the east" Photo Credit: Teresa JenkinsORLANDO, Fla. – A front stalled out across Central Florida will will lead to on-and-off scattered showers Tuesday. [TRENDING: COVID after the vaccine | Bugsy, the French bulldog, stolen at gunpoint | SpaceX aims to fly -- and avoid explosion]Orlando will reach a high near 90. Highs on Wednesday will again be near 90, with a 20% chance of rain. Once the front moves through, Central Florida will cool back down. Expect a high of 75 on Thursday, with a 20% chance of rain, and a high of 67 on Friday, under sunny skies.
Roller coaster forecast has highs this week ranging from 89 to 67
Fla. – We are pinpointing a cloudy day on Monday across Central Florida, with highs topping off near 80. A week front will bring clouds and a few sprinkles on and off through the afternoon. The normal high in Orlando on this date is 80. Highs will reach the upper 80s Tuesday and Wednesday before a new front drops temperatures on Friday to a high of 67 in Orlando. We will be dry for Easter weekend, with a high of 76 degrees on Sunday.
Romania OKs holding Easter celebrations despite virus surge
As Romania battles against a surge of COVID-19 infections authorities announced on Thursday March 25, 2021, that Easter celebrations in the deeply Christian country will physically go ahead this year. AdThe Easter Service is one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar. On the night of the Resurrection, Romanian Orthodox worshipers attend a service at midnight when they receive the Holy Light. “Preventing physical Easter in an Orthodox country in times when people need safety but also hope is not one of those." The prime minister also said he used Thursday's meeting to urge religious authorities to support Romania’s vaccination campaign, which has delivered more than 2.6 million vaccines shot so far.
Island H2O hatching up Easter fun with egg-venture weekend
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Colorful Easter eggs will soon be popping up in various spots of Island H2O water park in the coming weeks. In a news release, officials said Easter eggs will be hidden on ground level inside the park continuously during each weekend day. Island H2O water park (WKMG)The water park features a lazy river packed with currents and water falls, wave pool, adults only pool, area for kids, and a number of raft and body slides. Island H2O water park is located along Inspiration Drive at Sunset Walk near the Margaritaville Resort Orlando. Click here to learn more about Island H2O water park and information.
Poland orders stricter pandemic measures for Easter period
A cyclist passes in front of an ambulance by an infectious diseases hospital in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)WARSAW – Poland's government ordered stricter pandemic measures for the two-week period surrounding Easter, describing the new rules Thursday as an attempt to limit human contacts amid a deadly surge in the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said he knew the more severe measures come during a period when families traditionally spend time together for Easter, and it would require a sacrifice from Poles. “The evolution of the virus and the British mutation is leading not only to more infections, but also causing more hospitalizations,” Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said. The higher numbers in Poland come amid more testing.
The Latest: Philippine leader orders mayors investigated
New coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Utah have been on a downward trend since January. Ad___SAO PAULO, Brazil — Brazil has reached 300,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and become the second nation to top that figure. ___BOISE, Idaho — The governor of Idaho has said COVID-19 vaccine eligibility will be open to all Idaho residents 16 and up starting April 5. ___WAILUKU, Hawaii — A hospital on Maui had to throw out nearly 1,400 vaccine doses after a refrigerator thawing the vials did not properly seal. Also, COVID-19 deaths have dipped below 1,000 a day on average for the first time since November.
Merkel drops Easter shutdown plan for Germany, apologizes
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the weekly cabinet meeting of the German government at the chancellery in Berlin, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. (Kay Nietfeld/Pool via AP)BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday dropped plans for a five-day shutdown over Easter, which had prompted confusion and criticism. The same group, faced with rising coronavirus infections, had come up early Tuesday with the unexpected plan for tighter restrictions over Easter. Ad“The idea of an Easter shutdown was drawn up with the best intentions, because we must urgently manage to slow and reverse the third wave of the pandemic,” Merkel said. Merkel said, even without the Easter shutdown, the decisions that she and the state governors came up with offer a “framework” to beat back the new wave of coronavirus infections.
Congratulations: Orlando’s Betty the Frog named 2021 Cadbury Bunny
The votes are in and there’s a new Cadbury Bunny. Betty the Australian White Tree Frog will represent Cadbury this year. In a video submitted by Betty’s owner, you can see her sitting pretty with a hat that has bunny ears on it. Betty can also be seen jumping all over a miniature Easter basket of eggs and some Cadbury chocolate eggs. In addition to starring in the commercial, Betty will get a $5,000 cash prize.
Annual Winter Park Easter Egg Hunt canceled due to COVID-19 concerns
The Easter Bunny encourages people to wear a mask during an Easter parade in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, April 11, 2020. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel via AP)WINTER PARK, Fla. – For the second year in a row, Winter Park will skip its annual Easter egg hunt because of COVID-19. Before 2020, Winter Park held the egg hunt every year for 65 years. AdIn lieu of the Easter egg hunt, the city will hold three small parades starting at 9 a.m. on April 3. For more information, call the city of Winter Park at 407-599-3342 or click here.
Spanish islands warn tourists to abide by virus restrictions
Faced with a possible flood of visitors from Germany later this month, authorities in Spains Balearic Islands are warning hotel owners that tourists must adhere to coronavirus restrictions the same way residents do. But the restrictions havent stopped eager German tourists who have rushed to book flights and accommodation this week following their governments removal of the islands from a list of high-risk contagion zones. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu, FIle)MADRID – Faced with a possible flood of visitors from Germany later this month, authorities in Spain's Balearic Islands are warning hotel owners that tourists must adhere to coronavirus restrictions the same way residents do. But the restrictions haven't stopped eager German tourists who have rushed to book flights and accommodation this week following their government's removal of the Balearic Islands and other holiday destinations from a list of high-risk areas. Tourism accounted for 12% of Spain's gross domestic product before the pandemic and nearly a third of the Balearic Islands' output.
Orlando frog wants to be this year’s Cadbury Bunny. Here’s how to vote.
Betty the treefrog is in the running for this year's Cadbury bunny. Every year, Cadbury puts a call out to pet parents to find a new star for its yearly Cadbury Bunny commercial that comes out each Easter. Betty’s owner said on the Cadbury website, “Betty is an Australian White’s Treefrog. She would be an amazing Cadbury Bunny if you gave her the chance.”AdIn a video submitted by Betty’s owner, you can see her sitting pretty with a hat that has bunny ears on it. Betty can also be seen jumping all over a miniature Easter basket of eggs and some Cadbury chocolate eggs of course.
Augusta National in November? 5 reasons why this year’s Masters will stand alone in history
If you’re clicking around on the remote control while watching TV this weekend, odds are, you’ll stumble on som sights of Augusta National Golf Club. Yes, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, that will be the case for the first time in the history of the illustrious tournament. Paul Casey of England plays a shot on the second hole during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on November 09, 2020 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith) (Getty Images)One of the reasons the Masters is often the most-rated golf tournament is the stunning sight of azaleas and other flowers throughout the course. No fansThis won’t be any different from any other golf tournament or major sporting event this year.
Out of this world ways astronauts celebrate holidays in space
There may not be family feasts or boughs of holly, but astronauts still manage to find creative ways to celebrate holidays while they’re orbiting the Earth. Come Nov. 15, four astronauts will launch on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket and head for the International Space Station, where they’ll stay for about six months. Space Station (@Space_Station) November 25, 2019Last year, NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan were happy to let Russian astronauts Aleksandr Skvortsov and Oleg Skripochka and Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano in on their American traditions. New Year’sAccording to Kelly, New Year’s is actually a bigger deal than Christmas on the International Space Station because all the astronauts on board celebrate it at the same time. You can hear his International Space Station rendition of the Irish ballad here.
Harshmallow: Virus prompts pause for Peeps holiday treats
FILE - This Feb. 13, 2013 file photo shows Peeps at the Just Born factory in Bethlehem, Pa. Peeps holiday treats are going on hiatus another consequence of the coronavirus. PennLive.com reports, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, that Just Born Quality Confections says it wont be producing the popular sweets for Halloween, Christmas or Valentines Day as the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based company prepares for next Easter. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Peeps treats are going on hiatus for several months — another consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. Just Born Quality Confections said it won’t be producing the popular marshmallow sweets for Halloween, Christmas or Valentine’s Day as the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based company prepares for next Easter, PennLive.com reports. Just Born, which has been in business since 1923, said its other seasonal confections are expected to return to store shelves by Halloween 2021.
A virus that hits all faiths tests religion's tie to science
Many churches are adapting their services as Christians around the world are celebrating Easter at a distance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Others have suggested that faith is an authority higher than science, and belief can turn back contagion. But as more officials trace virus hot spots back to faith gatherings, calls have grown louder for the devout to protect each other’s physical well-being first. Though he dismissed a possible Passover curfew last month, Israel ultimately imposed a national lockdown on the holiday’s first night. Some Iraqis have criticized al-Sadr, a Shiite Muslim, arguing he hasn’t discouraged believers from visiting holy shrines.