The church, its crowded spaces typically crammed with thousands visitors from around the world, will now allow in 50 people at a time. They will have to wear masks and keep six feet from each other, according to the leaders of the three religious communities who together are the custodians of the site. The keeper of the keys to the church said it was the first time it had been closed at length since the Black Death plague in 1349. More than 16,700 coronavirus cases have been reported in Israel, with 279 deaths. Palestinian authorities have reported 368 cases in the occupied West Bank and two deaths.

Source: Washington Post May 24, 2020 10:13 UTC