By The Associated Press
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem’s storied Church of the Nativity reopened to visitors on Tuesday, after a nearly three-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The church, built over the spot where Christians believe Jesus was born, was closed on March 5 as the first cases of the virus were reported in the West Bank.
The church is one of Christianity’s most sacred shrines and the closure came ahead of the busy Easter holiday season that typically draws tens of thousands of visitors and worshipers.
The Palestinian Authority has reported some 400 cases of the coronavirus in the West Bank, with two deaths.
Israel’s Health Ministry has reported over 16,700 confirmed cases of the disease and 279 deaths.
