The Vatican has announced that it will be reopening its museums starting February 1 after being closed due to the coronavirus lockdown.

The Museums have become a major source of income for the Holy See but has been hit by the pandemic.

It also houses some of the world’s greatest Renaissance masterpieces as well as ancient Roman and Egyptian artifacts.

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A notice on its official website, http://m.museivaticani.va/, states that visitors can now go to the museum in February but they have to make on-line reservations in order to control the number of people.

Visitors will have their temperatures checked and will have to wear masks and use hand sanitizer.

Museum staff will also wear masks and gloves and health workers will be on stand by.

Similar conditions will apply to visitors to the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo south of Rome.

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Some museums in Italy started reopening last May due to the easing of lockdown in the country.

The COVID-19 pandemic has so far killed 33,000 people in Italy.

Reports from Reuters state that The Museums received some 7 million visitors last and are the Holy See’s most reliable source of income, generating an estimated $100 million yearly. (TDT)