Closure of 'Yesutanbirth Church' Ahead of Easter Amid COVID-19 Fears

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Palestine, which was expected to attract many tourists ahead of Easter on the 12th of next month, has been indefinitely closed. This measure is believed to have been taken following reports of the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Palestine. Following the ban on pilgrimages to the Islamic holy city of Mecca, religious sites across the Middle East are suffering due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the Associated Press on the 5th (local time), the Palestinian Authority announced the indefinite closure of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. After suspicions arose that four Palestinians had been infected with COVID-19, all tourists were indefinitely banned from entering the West Bank region of the Jordan River, and other places of worship in Bethlehem were ordered to close for two weeks. If the suspected patients are confirmed to have COVID-19, it will be reported as the first occurrence of the virus in the Palestinian territories.

The Israeli government is also cooperating with the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Health on COVID-19 issues. Israel has provided the Palestinian side with about 250 COVID-19 test kits and is reportedly planning joint training for medical personnel. In the Middle East, since the first confirmed case in the religious city of Qom, Iran, last month, the number of confirmed cases has rapidly increased to nearly 4,000. Iran reported a cumulative total of 3,513 confirmed cases and 107 deaths as of the previous day.

COVID-19 is disrupting not only Christian but also Islamic pilgrimages. Saudi Arabia previously banned pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina, and Iran has canceled Friday prayers in major cities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.