Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday a nation-wide lockdown in order to fight the coronavirus pandemic in Israel, saying the unprecedented steps that limited Israelis' movement were necessary because of the "real fear among health professionals that the number of deaths will increase dramatically in the coming days."
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"My fellow Israelis, you are familiar with the saying that saving one life is like saving the entire world, but there is a corollary: If you infect one person, it is like you have infected the entire world," Netanyahu said in his televised address. "These steps have been adopted by countries all over the world but they are not enough, because the number of infected [in Israel] has been tripling every three days, and we may very well end up with thousands of patients being gravely ill," he continued.
Under the new restrictions, which came into effect on Wednesday night, people have to stay within 100 yards of their homes; all leisure activities and sporting events are barred; public transportation is suspended, taxis are only allowed to fare one passenger, and companies still operating would be required to check their employees' temperature before letting them enter the building.
Essential services such as supermarkets, pharmacies, and access to medical care would not be limited, the Prime Minister's Office explained. Restaurants are allowed to make deliveries to customers who order food.
Netanyahu warned that more restrictions may be announced if the current lockdown fails to slow the rate of infection. "Stay at home. The virus does not discriminate; we have to show self-discipline because if you don't protect yourselves, a calamity will take place."
