Israel reimposed on Monday a series of restrictions to fight a spike in coronavirus infections, including the immediate closure of bars, gyms, and event halls.
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In public remarks at a special cabinet session on the health crisis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had to reverse course to avoid a wider lockdown that could paralyze its economy, where unemployment is just above 20%. The Bank of Israel on Monday forecast a 6% economic contraction.
"The pandemic is spreading – that's as clear as day. It is rising steeply daily and it is dragging with it, contrary to what we had been told, a trail of critically ill patients," Netanyahu said.
He later posted more information on Twitter.
"We have 90 cases of severe coronavirus-related illness right now, and this figure doubles every four days. If we don't act now, we will get hundreds of such cases and perhaps even more than a thousand severe cases in the coming weeks. This may paralyze our country and that is why we have to take immediate steps to prevent harsher measures down the road," he continued, vowing to help Israelis who have struggled economically due to the unforeseen closure of workplaces. "I know it's not easy, but Israelis know that we have to take these minimal steps to avoid a major shutdown of the economy."
Israel: COVID-19 Live Update From Health Minister Yuli Edelstein
🔴 HAPPENING NOW: Health Minister Yuli Edelstein gives update on Israel's COVID-19 surge and restrictions
פורסם על ידי i24NEWS English ב- יום שני, 6 ביולי 2020
A government announcement said that in addition to the immediate shuttering of bars, night clubs, gyms, event halls, and cultural events, the number of diners in restaurants would be limited to 20 indoors and 30 outdoors.
Attendance at synagogues was capped at 19 worshippers, and buses would be allowed to carry up to 20 passengers, the statement said.
After largely containing the spread of the coronavirus in May and reopening schools, beaches and businesses, Israel has been hit by a sharp rise in infections.
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein echoed Netanyahu and said in a prime-time television address on Monday that the mandatory shutdown of many establishments was necessary in order to avoid a total shutdown.
Epidemiologist Hagai Levine said Israel did not prepare well for the day after lockdown.
"Israel's experience should be a lesson to all countries: You cannot move from one extreme to another, from total lockdown to a quick, sweeping removal of restrictions without proper planning," the professor at the Hebrew University's School of Public Health said.
"We have to act based on data and focus on high-risk populations, epicenters, and specific activities in which contagion risk is high. The coronavirus will be with us for a long while. This is a marathon, not a sprint," Levine said.
In Israel, more than 30,000 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus and 332 have died.
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