Benjamin Netanyahu orders complete lockdown in Israel lasting through Passover and demands families celebrate in their homes after Purim gatherings escalated coronavirus spread
- Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a complete lockdown across Israel
- There have been 58 deaths across the country and 8,904 confirmed cases
- All travel between cities has been stopped between Tuesday afternoon and Friday morning
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a complete lockdown across Israel in order to control the country’s growing coronavirus outbreak.
So far there have been 58 deaths because of the virus across the country and 8,904 confirmed cases.
The lockdown will have an impact on the upcoming Passover holiday and residents will be unable to leave their homes.
Mr Netanyahu has stopped all travel between cities from Tuesday at 4pm until Friday at 7am after Purim gatherings at the beginning of March helped spread the virus.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured above on March 14) has announced a complete lockdown across Israel in order to control the country’s growing coronavirus outbreak
An Israeli police officer wearing protective gear waits to detain ultra-Orthodox men after they pray in a synagogue in defiance of government measures to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, in Bnei Brak
An ultra-Orthodox man walks past a synagogue on a mainly deserted street because of the government’s measures to help stop the spread of the coronavirus
The Prime Minister did however say he may lift restrictions after the week-long festival.
It comes after leaders of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt said they were suspending Easter celebrations because of the coronavirus.
Israel had already implemented restriction of movement because of the outbreak.
People across the country have only been able to leave their homes to shop for essentials and for other essential activities such as exercise.
In a national address, Mr Netanyahu said the government was further restricting movement for Passover, which begins Wednesday evening with a festive meal known as the ‘Seder.’
‘Every family will sit down for Seder night on its own. Celebrate only with the immediate family that’s at home with you now.
‘On Purim, the virus spread. I’m telling you now clearly, Passover will not be Purim.
‘When speaking about health and your lives, it is forbidden to take shortcuts,’ he added.
The Prime Minister said similar travel restrictions would be in place for the upcoming holidays of Easter and Ramadan later in April.
At the same time, he said ‘there are positive signs on the horizon’ and that preparations were already underway for a possible easing of movement restrictions after Passover.
A woman walks past graffiti as she wears a protective face mask and gloves amid concerns over the country’s coronavirus outbreak, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, April 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
An ultra-Orthodox Jew wears an improvised protective face mask as he pulls a supermarket cart on a mainly deserted street because of the government’s measures to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, in Bnei Brak, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, April 3, 2020. The military plans to send troops in to assist local authorities with coronavirus control. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)