In an attempt to avoid a surge in new COVID cases due to close contact at Purim parties and Adloyada celebrations, the cabinet has approved a nationwide curfew for this coming weekend. Starting Thursday night, the eve of Purim, the curfew will be in effect from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.
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During the hours of curfew, the public is banned from visiting other people's homes and may not go farther than 1,000 meters from their own homes.
Intercity transportation will be stopped entirely for the hours of curfew, starting at 8 p.m. Thursday. Intracity public transportation will be cut down, and occupancy limited to 50%. Police will also be setting up roadblocks on intercity arteries and at entrances and exits to cities and towns.
The cabinet also stressed that no Purim gatherings would be allowed during daytime that exceed 10 participants in closed spaces or 20 people in the open air. This includes Adloyada parades, shows, performances, and parties.
With the decision to instate a curfew in effect, the Israel Police were gearing up to enforce it, with an eye on planned underground parties.
One high-ranking police official told Israel Hayom that because Purim would be the first holiday after Israel lifted its third nationwide lockdown, the public was feeling "a sense of freedom," especially in light of the vaccination campaign, and warned that "It will be hard to enforce the curfew hermetically."
Other police officials repeated that the public should be concerned at the prospect of another outbreak rather than the prospect of facing off against police for breaking regulations.
Most of the police's efforts will be focused on preventing large gatherings in closed spaces.
"We are aware of the difficulties of enforcement, so we will exercise our best judgment for the public's sake. We and the public are already experienced in enforcement. The police alone cannot stop or reduce the spread [of the virus]. So we expect the public to look out for each other," officials said.
Police officials stressed that police do not have the authority to enter privately-owned premises, except in cases of noise complaints, and would be using intelligence work to locate illicit parties at homes and outdoors.
One police official said that local authorities and the Health Ministry also had the authority to enforce the curfew.
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