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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and now former Health Minister Yaakov Litzman; the latter had announced his resignation due to the new closure.
Image: AFP
According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the directors of the clinics “raised the red flag.” Now everything except grocery stores and medical consultations must remain closed, people can only be 500 meters from their home, except in exceptional cases, for at least three weeks.
meIn view of the increasing number of new infections with the corona virus, the Israeli government has decided to impose a second blockade at the national level. The cabinet voted Sunday night against opposition from some ministers for new drastic exit restrictions. These should take effect on Friday afternoon at 1pm (CEST), before the start of the Jewish holidays, and will initially apply for three weeks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that clinic administrators “raised the red flag” in light of the rising number of infections. Immediate action is required. “Our goal is to stop the increase.” Schools and kindergartens are said to be closed. Except for exceptional cases, people are only allowed up to 500 meters from their homes. Hotels, restaurants and shopping centers, as well as leisure facilities, should also remain closed, according to media reports. Grocery shopping and doctor visits are still allowed. Authorities and private companies should work with restrictions. Additionally, mounting restrictions apply: up to 20 people can meet outdoors and up to ten people indoors.
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The strictly religious Minister of Housing and former Minister of Health Jakov Litzman of the United Torah Judaism party announced his resignation in protest of the measures. Litzman is a major partner in Netanyahu’s coalition.
The number of new infections in Israel has increased dramatically recently. For four days in a row, record values were recorded last week. The number of cases since the beginning of the pandemic has exceeded 150,000 and 1,108 people have died after becoming infected.
There was strong resistance to the new crown restrictions for economic reasons. Because the Crown crisis has already hit the country’s economy badly. The summer unemployment rate was more than 20 percent.
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