In the wake of the second wave of coronavirus infections in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked his ministers on Thursday to approve a series of strict measures that would effectively put Israel on a second lockdown as early as Friday evening.
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The plan envisions weekend-only lockdowns that would limit access to various venues such as public beaches, although not restrict the freedom of movement of Israelis.
On top of the weekend restrictions, which would run from Friday to Sunday every week, schools have to shut down immediately and indefinitely. This includes universities and daycare facilities, as well as educational institutions that run special programming for the children on summer break. These measures are to be in effect until at least August 31 or until the number of daily new cases of carriers drops to 400.
The drastic measure, which are the culmination of a whole host of deliberations aimed at reducing the community spread of COVID-19, also prohibits gatherings of more than 20 people in open spaces and more than 10 people indoors on all days. In addition, restaurants will have to revert to take-out only menus, synagogues will have to avoid any large public service, and gyms are to be shut down.
The Health Ministry reported Thursday that over 1,900 new coronavirus infections were recorded over the past 24 hours, pushing the country dangerously close to the 2,000 daily-case benchmark that Health Minister Yuli Edelstein has set as a trigger for a nationwide lockdown.
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