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Workers in Japan Put Face Mask on Giant Buddhist Goddess Statue to Pray for End to COVID-19

Workers hung from a 187-foot statue of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, at a temple in Aizuwakamatsu, Japan, on June 15 to secure a mask to her face in hopes it will help speed the end to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this footage, taken by commercial drone pilot Shouya Shimizu, four workers are seen unveiling the 77-pound face mask over the statue’s nose and mouth while suspended from the top of the statue.

The white statue is part of the Houkokuji Aizu Betsuin temple in Fukushima Prefecture.

According to reports, the workers came up with the idea while discussing the restoration of the statue after it was damaged in an earthquake in February, and plan to keep the mask on until COVID-19 is under control in Japan.

Japan, which is set to host the 2021 Summer Olympics in July, currently has over 779,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to data from the World Health Organization. An estimated 11 percent of Japanese nationals have been vaccinated, according to reports. Credit: Shouya Shimizu via Storyful