Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu reimposes national lockdown following rise in COVID-19 cases

Following a drastic resurgence in new COVID-19 cases and fearing consequences of mass garings during upcoming holiday season, Israel’s cabinet decided to reimpose national lockdown on Sunday, September 13. lockdown has been extended for three weeks and with anuncement, Israel has become first country in world to reimpose national lockdown due to fear of COVID-19.

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Lockdown to last till October 9

lockdown is scheduled to begin Friday following anuncement which is September 18; coincidently, it is also Jewish New Year. lockdown will last till October 9 and during reimposed lockdown, shops, schools and restaurants will remain closed and Israelis will have to contend with restrictions on movement.

In his statement that was nationally broadcast, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that goal of lockdown was to contain  spread of COVID-19. He added that he was aware that fresh lockdown comes with a ‘heavy price’ for people. first national lockdown in Israel mand to substantially reduce spread of COVID-19 but wrecked Israeli ecomy and caused unemployment to skyrocket.

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As per reports, one of reasons for lockdown was fast of Yom Kippur which usually results in large family garings and people travelling to synagogues. Officials feared that se mass garings would furr increase spread of virus.

After October 9, authorities will review situation and n take appropriate action. decision to reimpose national lockdown is reported to t been received well by many. Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman, who served as health minister during initial outbreak of virus, has already resigned over decision of Israeli cabinet to go ahead with national lockdown. Israel has currently recorded more than 150,000 virus cases and a little over 1,000 virus-related deaths.

COVID-19 pandemic which saw its first outbreak in a wet market in Wuhan, China last year has w spread all across world. virus, named COVID-19 by World Health Organisation, has infected over 28 million people worldwide with global death toll reaching over 900,000.

As per John Hopkins coronavirus resource centre, United States has reported a total of at least 6.5 million positive virus cases and has a death toll of more than 193,000. US currently has highest number of reported cases in world, making it epicentre of deadly virus.

(Input Credit AP)

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