Israel Prepares for 2-Week Coronavirus Lockdown

Israel's increasing rate of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection is inching hospitals closer to maximum capacity, says a report by the military Coronavirus Command and Control Center on September 13, 2020. This new report said that the coronavirus is rapidly spreading in Israel, adding that the rate of infection is the highest recorded since the outbreak began.

In response, the Israeli government is considering a 2-week lockdown, reported Haaretz.

According to the pending proposal, the education system will cease its activities as early as September 16th, besides distance learning. 

During the lockdown, the entire country of Israel will be considered a "red" zone, and people will be restricted to a 500-meter radius from their place of residence. All businesses, commerce, domestic tourism, places of entertainment, and government offices that serve people in person will be closed, with the exception of essential services, grocery stores, and supermarkets, pharmacies, hardware stores, medical supply stores, and computer and cellphone stores and repair facilities. And, restaurants will be limited to delivery and takeout service.

One month after being formed, the Israel Defense Forces’ Coronavirus Command recently began its 2nd stage of operations, taking over epidemiological tracking efforts nationwide.

According to the “traffic light” model, Israeli cities have been divided into red, orange, yellow, and green categories with different restrictions applied in light of each locale’s infection rate, as epidemiological testing has begun nationwide.