Palestinian Authority restricts movement, Israel nearing complete lockdown due to coronavirus

Ramallah – North-Press Agency

Ahmad Ismail

All Palestinian cities and towns in the West Bank underwent the process of imposing compulsory quarantine ceasing movement in the streets, except for the most urgent cases, since yesterday at 10 P.M., as part of the strict precautionary measures declared by the Palestinian government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

Palestinian security forces were deployed in the streets of major cities, and placed checkpoints at the entrances to various cities and towns.

The security forces also prevented the movement of vehicles, except for the most necessary cases, while calling on the population to adhere to the obligatory home quarantine.

Member of the Governmental Emergency Committee and the spokesman for the Palestinian Interior, Dr. Ghassan Nimr, told North-Press that the residents of the West Bank are committed to the restricted movement, noting that this will continue for 14 days.

Ghassan Nimr indicated that this stage is not a lockdown, but rather a severe restriction of Palestinian movement to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, noting that "grocery stores and supermarkets will be open in accordance with the new stage, in order to meet the basic needs of the citizens."

Nimr added that up until now, they haven't addressed the mechanism of work of international institutions and associations, "but all explanations will be provided after an evaluation session, which will be held by the Palestinian government in Ramallah, today, Monday."

In turn, the spokesman for the Palestinian government, Ibrahim Melhem, said that 85 samples from all governorates were tested yesterday, the results were negative, and that there are no new cases until this moment.

Melhem stressed that "all citizens' needs are met, and there is no lack of food supplies.”

In Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Health announced the diagnosis of 135 new cases today, Monday, bringing the number of infected cases to 1,238, 24 of which are in critical condition.

Netanyahu will hold a hearing session with the ministers to discuss the possibility of tightening restrictions on the movement of the public. Israeli Minister of Internal Security, Gilad Ardan, said: "We will move gradually to impose a complete lockdown in Israel."