Norovirus situation for Finland women's hockey seems to be improving. Switzerland is now isolating

MILAN (AP) — While Finland’s women’s hockey team appears to be improving after an outbreak of norovirus depleted its roster and forced the postponement of its first game at the Olympics, Switzerland's players are now isolating after a positive test result for the stomach illness.

The Swiss Olympic Committee said Friday night that a player had tested positive for norovirus and as a result the entire team was in isolation and skipped the opening ceremony. The positive test came after Switzerland played the Czech Republic earlier in the day.

Norovirus had previously only been detected in one team, and Finland officials voiced optimism Friday that the team's game Saturday against the U.S. will be played as scheduled.

Eleven skaters and all three goaltenders took part in practice Friday in the aftermath of Finland’s opener against Canada getting pushed to Feb. 12. That is up from eight skaters and two goalies on the ice Thursday when the remaining 13 players were either infected or in quarantine.

“We still have nine players isolated, but we strongly believe we will play tomorrow," general manager Kimmo Oikarinen said, adding that 14 skaters could be available. “It is getting better. Forfeit is the last thing we want to do. I don’t believe we will go there. I do not see that happening.”

Coach Tero Lehtera said: "We will play the USA, no matter what.”

The stomach illness began spreading earlier this week, and practice Wednesday was canceled. The team has been in limbo since.

“It was disappointing," Oikarinen said. "It is the Olympic Games, and we have been waiting for this for years. We all wanted to play, but there are things that happen. The main focus was to make sure our players will be healthy as soon as possible.”

Down two goals nearly midway through the third period, Switzerland scored twice in the final 11 minutes of regulation and beat the Czech Republic 4-3 in a shootout. Ivana Wey beat Michaela Hesova in the eighth round of the shootout to win it.

Alina Muller started the comeback, and Lara Christen tied it with 2:20 left. The Czechs had gone up 3-1, but it could have been an even bigger margin if not for Switzerland goaltender Saskia Maurer, who stopped 33 of the 36 shots she faced in regulation and overtime and the final three in the shootout.

It was Switzerland's opening game, while the Czechs have now dropped consecutive games after a 5-1 loss to the United States on Thursday.

Makoto Ito scored with 3 1/2 minutes left to break a 1-all tie, and Japan beat France 3-2. Japan went up two 1:20 later on Suzuka Maeda's goal, and Gabrielle de Serres scored her second in as many games with 13 seconds left.

It was Japan's first game of the tournament, while France lost on back-to-back days following a defeat to host Italy on Thursday.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Japan's Shiori Koike and her teammates celebrate after a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between France and Japan at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Switzerland's Laura Zimmermann, center, celebrates after scoring her side's opening goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Switzerland and Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Czechia's Kristyna Kaltounkova, left, falls over Switzerland's Saskia Maurer while scoring her sides first goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Switzerland and Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (David W Cherny/Pool Photo via AP)

Czechia's forward Vendula Pribylova, left, fights for the puck with Switzerland's forward Leoni Balzer during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Switzerland and Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Wikus De Wet/Pool Photo via AP)

FILE - Finland celebrates winning the women's bronze medal hockey game against the team from Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Feb. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

A view of the Milano Santagiulia ice hockey arena, for the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Thousands of Catholic devotees commemorated Good Friday across Latin America with processions and ceremonies re-enacting the crucifixion of Jesus.

In Antigua, a colonial-era city in southern Guatemala, dozens dressed in purple and white robes and made their way under the early morning sun, many of them penitents known as “cucuruchos.” Others carried centuries-old images of Jesus through cobblestone streets.

The city hosts more than a dozen processions throughout Holy Week, set against a backdrop of volcanoes.

Marcos Bautista, 63, said he has attended the Good Friday observances since his father brought him along as a baby in his arms.

“To describe Holy Week in Antigua, there are no words that can capture what it feels like," Bautista said. “It’s a feeling that, just by speaking about what Jesus has done in our lives, moves me deeply.”

In Bolivia, President Rodrigo Paz traveled to the southern city of Tarija to participate in Good Friday ceremonies.

The country is a secular state under its constitution and its leaders refrained from engaging in any religious events between 2006 and 2025. But Paz — who took office last November — broke with precedent by attending Palm Sunday Mass carrying a palm frond.

In the capital city of La Paz, government authorities and military bands accompanied Good Friday processions, in which hooded penitents carried the Holy Sepulcher through the streets.

Bolivia remains a predominantly Catholic country, alongside strong Indigenous spiritual traditions. In some households, it is customary to eat only fish on Good Friday and prepare up to 12 dishes representing the apostles of Jesus, a tradition that has declined in recent years amid an economic crisis.

In Ecuador, where about 80% of the population identifies as Catholic, processions were held across major cities.

In Guayaquil, roughly half a million faithful attended the “Cristo del Consuelo” procession. Amid displays of devotion, some participants walked barefoot, while others wore thorn crowns or dragged crosses.

In the capital, Quito, the “Jesús del Gran Poder” procession drew more than 150,000 faithful, who filled the historic center’s streets with chants and prayers as they accompanied an image of Jesus carrying the cross.

Thousands more climbed the Monserrate Hill in neighboring Colombia. At more than 10,200 feet (3,100 meters) above sea level, they reached the summit in the capital city of Bogotá to attend Mass at the basilica. Similar observances, including reenactments of the Stations of the Cross, were held in other parts of the country, including Medellín.

While the share of Catholics in Latin America has declined over the past decade, the faith remains the region’s largest religion.

In several countries, including Mexico, Peru and Argentina, more than 60% of adults still identify as Catholic, according to 2024 surveys by the Pew Research Center and Latinobarómetro.

AP journalists Moisés Castillo in Antigua, Guatemala; Carlos Valdez in La Paz, Bolivia; Gonzalo Solano and Gabriela Molina, in Quito, Ecuador, contributed to this report.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Penitents from the Nazareno brotherhood carry a statue of Jesus down the steps of the Cathedral Basilica of St. James the Apostle for a Good Friday procession during Holy Week in Tunja, Colombia, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

A hooded penitent from the Nazareno brotherhood waits for the Good Friday procession inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. James the Apostle during Holy Week in Tunja, Colombia, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Young women and girls carry jeweled hearts representing the Virgin Mary at a Good Friday procession during Holy Week in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Hooded penitents participate in a Good Friday procession during Holy Week in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A statue of Jesus Christ with a cross makes its way past electric cables at La Merced church's Good Friday procession during Holy Week in Antigua, Guatemala, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Women carry children dressed as penitents knows as "cucuruchos" on the sidelines of La Merced church's Good Friday procession during Holy Week in Antigua, Guatemala, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Penitents carry statues of Jesus Christ representing the Stations of the Cross at a Good Friday procession by La Merced church during Holy Week in Antigua, Guatemala, just before sunrise Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Musicians dressed as Roman soldiers take part in La Merced church's Good Friday procession during Holy Week in Antigua, Guatemala, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)