Israel has begun its third lockout since the coronavirus pandemic began at 5pm on Sunday, as coronavirus cases across the country continue to rise as health officials work to race to get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible .
The new closure was formally announced Wednesday in a rare joint statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz and was approved by the cabinet a day later.
Tel Aviv soldiers and police launch second national lockout across the country in September
(Photo: AFP)
The lock-in was expected to last longer than two weeks announced by the government and will remain in place until the daily infection rate falls below 1,000 new cases and the number R is found (showing the number of people who each infected person carries the virus) be less than 1.
Similar to the previously closed lock that expired in mid-October, the public will be barred from traveling no more than a kilometer from their homes and banned from entering dwellings in which they do not live; trade and entertainment venues will close; restaurants will not be able to provide food delivery; non-public businesses will be able to operate at 50% capacity; public transport operates at 50% of the normal schedule; and social gatherings will be limited to 20 people in an outdoor area and 10 people indoors.
The transfer of children between two parents who do not live together will continue unbroken.
Knesset Education Committee Meeting Sunday
(Photo: The Knesset)
The lock was also removed to include schools that were partially open to students, with nurseries, grades 1-4 and 11-12 attending classes in person from 8am to 1pm while in which specific ed classes remain unchanged.
However, the Knesset Education Committee also rebelled against the “yellow” areas with very low infection rates for attending school in person. The government could order its closure of the school to repeat these levels, but it was unclear whether it would do so.
Israel has struggled to maintain the low levels of disease created during a lockout, with the government both accused of opening too soon.
Officials are still hopeful this will be the last nationwide closure as the vaccination program was collecting steam.
Buyers in Netanya run into stocks before Israel’s third lockout begins
(Photo: AFP)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel was aiming to vaccinate up to 150,000 people by the end of the week.
Once that happened, Netanyahu said in a video message posted online, he hoped to see 4.5 million Israelis vaccinated within 30 days – about half the entire population – and he had already been in contact with the companies making the vaccines to persuade them to keep up with the country’s demand.
With the inoculation campaign entering its second week, approximately 280,000 people have already received the first dose of the two-stage inoculation.
An Israeli woman is being vaccinated in Carmiel
(Photo: Ahiya Raved)
The vaccines mean “there is a very high chance that this will be our last closure,” Sharon Alroy-Preis, head of the Health Ministry ‘s public health services department, told Radio Radio on Sunday.
The country saw about 2,630 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, with a favorable rate of 4.1% after 64,662 tests.
Conversation not fines
Israeli Police said Sunday it would focus its enforcement efforts on illegal gatherings during the lockout.
Unlike the previous two locks, police said they would not set up roadblocks during the day, to enforce the ban on moving more than one kilometer from the home. They also said they would prefer to contact citizens about fining him.
Temporary roadblocks were to be set up on intercity roads for spot checks only to ensure people are complying with the locking guidelines that allow some people to travel to work, and in an effort to remove the traffic tags and avoid delays seen during the lockout. imposed over the Jewish New Year in September.
Police will enforce travel restrictions during the second lockout in September
(Photo: Police Spokesperson)
In the evening hours, police were to increase their presence on roads to prevent unauthorized movement with around 300 road blocks going up across the country from the early evening hours to mid-afternoon. night.
“We are against a complex reality,” said Deputy Commissioner Shimon Nachmani, head of Israeli Police operations.
“The third lockout is unlike the first two before. We need to show our resilience along with our restraint to prevent an increase in morbidity,” he said.
There were concerns that New Year’s Eve celebrations would be held against the lockout and police officers said they would work to eliminate planned incidents before they happen, as well as enforcing the law at incidents found.
According to the police, and by law, political demonstrations will be allowed and those wishing to take part in them would not be prevented from traveling.
Police are also committed to increased enforcement in the ultra-orthodox and Arab communities, where disease rates are high.