Israel tightened its coronavirus measures on Thursday after failing to reduce the world’s highest infection rate a week after a second nationwide lockdown took effect, AFP reports.
The new rules will limit most workplaces, shutter markets and prayers and demonstrations.
“Saving lives is our priority,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised news conference late Thursday evening, justifying the decision to tighten sanctions.
“The state of Israel will overcome the epidemic and we will be stronger,” he added without elaborating on all the steps taken by his government.
The move comes as Israel prepares to enter the second week of a three-week lockdown imposed last Friday, which includes school closures and restrictions on work and leisure.
Under the new measures approved by Parliament during the first reading on Thursday, only “essential” work will be allowed from 2.00 pm local time (1100 GMT) on Friday, and the Jewish holiday is about to begin at Judah Kipur. Sunday afternoon.
At other times, only outdoor prayers with a maximum of 20 people in attendance will be allowed. The same restrictions have been applied to performance.
A decision on whether to close Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv will be made later on Thursday, the government said.
“To save the lives of Israeli citizens, we now need to impose a complete lockdown for two weeks,” Netanyahu said earlier.
“It simply came to our notice then. Anyone who thinks we can deal with a raging epidemic of rising deaths and infections without affecting the economy is wrong. “
Over the past fortnight, Israel has the highest per capita coronavirus infection rate in the world, according to AFP – out of a population of nine million, more than 200,000 infections have been reported.
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