Ministers on Friday approved the rules of Israel’s third universal coronavirus lock-up which is due to take effect at 5pm on Sunday.
The rules impose restrictions on living in public places, restrictions on traffic and restriction on commercial, recreational and leisure activities, all carrying a NIS 500 fine ($ 150).
Police stop the driver at a checkpoint near Hadera during a coronavirus lockout
(Photo: AP)
The two-week closure can be extended by a further two weeks if the daily number of infections does not fall below a thousand cases and the number of reproductions of the pathogen [R number – the number of people that one infected person will pass on a virus to, on average] fall under one.
Just like the previously closed lock that ended in mid-October, the public will be restricted from traveling more than one kilometer (0.6 miles) from home and visiting other cities; trade and entertainment venues will close; restaurants will only be able to run food deliveries; non-public businesses will be limited to operating at 50% capacity; public transport will operate at 50% capacity and social gatherings will be limited to 20 people in open spaces and 10 indoor.
Police checkpoint in Tel Aviv at the time of coronavirus lockout
(Photo: AFP)
Nature reserves will also be closed and training will only be allowed for professional athletes. Israelis will be allowed to leave for Ben Gurion Airport up to eight hours before the flight.
Unlike the previous two locks, the education systems will remain partially open. Levels 1-4 and 11-12, along with nurseries, operate personal classes from 8am to 1pm while the special education system continues to operate normally. Parents can drop off and pick up their children at school between 7am and 2pm.
Separated parents who share a grip will be able to move their children freely.
The Director General of the Ministry of Health said Dr. Hezi Levy gave a preparatory meeting Thursday night before being locked out with a pandemic and warned of a slippery slope unless major steps are taken.
“We know how difficult this is, but if we don’t put the lock down we could reach 9,000 confirmed cases a day by mid-January, and reach 800 seriously ill patients. Now is the time to stop this, stop this slippery slope, ”the tax said.
The Director General of the Ministry of Health said Dr. Cìs Hezi
(Photo: Ido Erez)
“We are currently the middle surgeon in diseases, with around 4,000 new patients per day and a favorable rate of over 5%.”
“The breeding population also shows an increase in disease, as at 1.26, and in some regions, this number reaches up to 1.7, there is an increase [in infections] among the ultra-orthodox region, but the increase in the number of diseases among the general population occurred during Hanukkah. “