Notre Dame Cathedral worksite rearranged to protect workers from coronavirus

The construction site at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has been rearranged to protect workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, The Associated Press reported Monday. 

An official with the state agency overseeing the project to fix the landmark after a damaging fire last year told the AP workers started rearranging the site on Monday. 

The updates for worker protection include rearranging showers and cloakrooms to allow for more distance between workers and installing a place to eat, as restaurants in France are closed in response to the health crisis, Notre Dame Rector Monsignor Patrick Chauvet told reporters outside the site Monday, according to the AP. 

He told reporters most workers will be in nearby vacant hotels to avoid taking public transportation. 

The site is hidden from the public behind high barriers, AP reports. 

The work on the cathedral, which was halted in mid-March due to the pandemic, is set to gradually resume next week. 

The general in charge of reconstruction told the AP he still wants to stick to plans to have the cathedral back to the Catholic Church in 2024 when Paris is set to host the Olympics.