Bethlehem prepares for scaled-down Christmas amid coronavirus restrictions

A Palestinian National security unit is deployed at Manger Square, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, ahead of Christmas, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem (Nasser Nasser/AP)

Christmas Eve festivities in Bethlehem were getting under way with the coronavirus pandemic meaning a strict lockdown was in place at the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

Officials tried to make the most out of a bad situation.