Israelis vented their anger on Thursday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country will impose a third national lockdown to fight climbing COVID-19 infections. The curbs will come into effect on Sunday evening and last for 14 days, pending final cabinet approval, a statement from Netanyahu’s office said.
The restrictions include the closure of shops and markets, limited public transport, a partial shutdown of schools and a one-kilometre restriction on travel from home, except for commuting to workplaces that remain open and to purchase essential goods.
Vendors in a Tel Aviv marketplace were mostly angry and frustrated, fearing they would lose their livelihoods.
The Health Ministry said Israel’s Christian minority would have services limited to just 10 people in closed spaces and 100 people in open areas.
With a population of nine million, Israel has so far reported more than 385 000 cases of COVID-19 and 3 150 deaths from the virus. On Wednesday, the Health Ministry said it had found four people infected with the new variant of the coronavirus that has emerged in Britain.
The lockdown comes with Israel’s vaccination drive already underway. Health Minister Yuli Edelstein told Army Radio he expected the campaign would be completed within months.
Hope and skepticism as Israel COVID-19 vaccination campaign starts:
