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Israel again requires national quarantine. It is the first country in the world to make such a “lockdown” decision, amid the alarming increase in the number of coronavirus infections. The restrictions will be in effect for now for three weeks.
The decision, taken at a rather tense government meeting, takes effect on Friday, September 18 at 2:00 p.m. local time, on the eve of the Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) holiday. Until then, the schools remain open.
Following the entry into force of the new measures, Israelis will be prohibited from traveling within a radius of more than 500 meters from their residence. Assemblies with more than ten people inside are not allowed, and outside the maximum number allowed is 20.
Special measures are also expected with regard to religious services.
Supermarkets and pharmacies remain open. Otherwise, non-essential commercial spaces will be closed, including shopping centers.
However, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport will remain open.
There are currently 37,482 active cases in Israel and 1,103 people have died. There are 9,845 active cases in the West Bank and 1,549 active cases in Gaza. 240 people died in the two territories.
Holidays restricted to Israelis
“I know that these measures will come at a heavy price for all of us,” Prime Minister Benjamin 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, asking for understanding from the population in the context in which Israel begins a festive period 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, 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.
Web edition: Luana Păvălucă
