[ad_1]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced this Sunday night his government’s decision to reinstate for three weeks the almost total isolation measures that were applied in the spring, thus trying to curb the new wave of COVID-19 diseases that last week caused Israel to have one of the highest death rates in the world, according to international news agencies.
After several hours of heated debate, the Netanyahu-led government voted in favor of the drastic decision, which will take effect on September 18 on the Jewish New Year and end on October 9 with the Feast of Tabernacles.
Starting next Friday, Israelis will no longer be allowed to stray more than 500 meters from their homes, non-essential commercial spaces, including malls, will be closed, and gatherings with more than ten people will be prohibited, among other things. restrictions. Schools will also be closed. However, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport will remain open.
“I know that these measures will come at a heavy price for all of us,” Netanyahu said in a televised message. “These are not the holidays we are used to. And, of course, we will not be able to celebrate with our extended families,” he continued, demanding understanding from the population as Israel begins a Christmas season with a series of holidays.
Criticized for handling the epidemic, Netanyahu promised a package of economic measures to support companies affected by the return of isolation measures.
Israel thus becomes the first developed country to reestablish isolation to curb the worsening of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Earlier in the day, an ultra-Orthodox minister resigned in protest at the ban on prayers during Jewish holidays, included in the anti-epidemic restrictions that were still being discussed at the time.
Israel, a country of about 9.2 million people, reported 1,037 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, after surpassing 4,000 at the beginning of the week.
[ad_2]
