Last Updated on March 31, 2020
Fighting the Coronavirus: The latest restrictions for Israel.
Israel PM Bibi Netanyahu, now in self-imposed quarantine, spoke from his official residence in Jerusalem on Israel television on Monday night with his proposed new restrictions for the country. These new measures have yet to be approved by the cabinet.
Netanyahu spoke about further limiting the ability of the country’s population to leave home.
He proposed cutting the workforce down from 30 percent to 15 percent.
Gatherings of more than 2 people, not from the same nuclear family, would be banned.
No outdoor prayer will be allowed. Netanyahu said “pray only on your own”. All religious events should be restricted as much as possible. Only immediate family members will be allowed to attend weddings. Twenty people are allowed at funerals and 10 at circumcisions. Restrictions apply to members of all faiths.
Netanyahu called for Israelis not to violate the restrictions during Pesach and only nuclear family members who live in the same home will be able to celebrate the seder together on April 8th, 2020.
He stated that security forces would step up enforcement in areas where high numbers of violations were taking place.
Health Minister Yaakov Litzman is asking for full the full shutdown of Bnei Brak. The wearing of face-masks, or some kind of covering (due to the shortage of masks), outside of the home is also under consideration.
Netanyahu’s address was followed by a statement from Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon who set out the plans for the government’s economic package to assist the economy through the Coronavirus health crisis.
Cabinet approval for the proposed restrictions is expected late on Monday night.
