Renovations at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris are temporarily suspended due to Covid-19.

The fire on April 15, 2019, severely damaged parts of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, melting 40,000 metal beams erected as scaffolding for a previous repair project. Reconstruction work on Notre Dame is now stalled, with workers ordered to return home amid the Covid-19 pandemic in France.

Notre Dame Cathedral remains standing, however its two bell towers have been severely damaged from the inside by the fire. "As long as these scaffolds are around, there is still a 50% chance of further damage to the cathedral," said cleric Brice de Malherbe.

On Good Friday, April 10th, Archbishop Michel Aupetit held a small service inside Notre Dame Cathedral, at the foot of the still-intact golden cross. "We stand in this half-destroyed cathedral to say that life is still here. The message of hope is especially important for patriots, particularly during this time when we are severely affected by Covid-19, which is sowing suffering and death," Archbishop Michel Aupetit said.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on April 15th his expectation that Notre Dame Cathedral would open in time for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. "We will do everything we can to meet this deadline. Notre Dame is a symbol of resilience, of overcoming challenges and standing tall," President Macron said. However, the cathedral's reconstruction has been stalled, from the discovery of toxic dust emanating from the melted lead roof to health risks for workers due to the pandemic.

French officials hope the scaffolding can be removed by autumn, after which an analysis of the bricks and stones will be conducted to determine which parts need replacing. Debris and ancient decorative objects, now burned, need to be cleared from the upper vaults, according to Reverend Malherbe. The dome structure will need to be rebuilt to protect the interior of the cathedral, which is currently obscured by obstacles.

AP reports that those responsible for rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral are temporarily suspending work due to the Paris lockdown. "The cathedral has been severely damaged, that's undeniable," said Jean-Louis Georgelin, head of the reconstruction project appointed by President Macron, but asserted that the structure has successfully withstood the heat from the fire, water leaks from cracks, the changing seasons, and strong winds. Georgelin added that sensors have been installed to record any unusual activity within the cathedral.

Donors of all sizes have contributed more than $200 million to the reconstruction, Georgelin said. Meanwhile, billionaires Francois Pinault and Bernard Arnault, owners of LVMH, and the oil and gas giant Total have pledged $437 million for the project. Germany has also offered to help construct the cathedral's large windows, with the participation of glass manufacturers who have undertaken renovation projects in the country. With the Covid-19 pandemic still raging in Europe, the Notre Dame reconstruction project is likely to continue to be delayed.

Ha Le