Filipinos told to postpone Holy Land trip amid Covid-19

“The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) advises all Filipinos planning to undertake pilgrimages to the Holy Land to postpone their trips until further notice,” the DFA said in an advisory dated March 6. (File photo: Holy Land Pilgrimage/Facebook)

MANILA – Filipinos planning a pilgrimage tour of the Holy Land have been advised to postpone their trips following the various travel restrictions imposed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority as the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) continues to spread worldwide.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) advises all Filipinos planning to undertake pilgrimages to the Holy Land to postpone their trips until further notice,” the DFA said in an advisory dated March 6.

The Palestinian Authority has decided to temporarily ban the entry of all tourists into the West Bank, including Bethlehem and Jericho, DFA said.

The Israeli government also decided to restrict all travels to Bethlehem from Israel.

“Prospective travelers are therefore advised to coordinate with their tour operators to avoid any inconvenience,” the department said.

Some 15 Covid-19 cases in Israel and seven in the Occupied Palestinian Territories have been confirmed, based on the latest data of the World Health Organization.

The UN-body reported 98,192 confirmed cases of Covid-19 globally, some 80,711 of which were recorded in China and 17,481 cases outside the state.