Israel extends confinement and Netanyahu warns that it could last a year
Israel's Coronavirus Cabinet decided yesterday to extend the confinement the country is experiencing, for the time being for three days, debating new limitations and the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, warned that the restrictions could last for months "or even a year".
The ministers approved the controversial emergency regulations, which limit demonstrations and other gatherings to one kilometre from each participant's residence and in groups of 20 people, a measure approved by Parliament the day before, which will have to be validated by the parliamentary Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and will mainly affect the mass protests against the prime minister.
They also decided to impose fines of 500 shéqueles (about 125 euros) on those who visit other people's "Sucas" (huts) during the upcoming Jewish festival of Sukkot (the Tabernacles).
The current confinement extends at least until October 14th, although it is likely to last for many months, the prime minister warned. The Israeli government wants to avoid the mistake it made with the first wave of coronavirus, with a very rapid de-escalation, and Netanyahu warned that "the exit from the closure will be slow and gradual, this time it could last between half a year and a year", reported digital Ynet.
The head of finance, Israel Katz, for his part, called for the restrictions to be relaxed-which keep all non-essential businesses, schools and much of public life and economic activity closed, and for businesses that do not serve the public to be allowed to reopen after the Sukkot holidays, which end on the 9th, reported the Times of Israel.
The Health Ministry reported last night that infections remain high, with more than 7,000 new positives since midnight last night (about 5,000 in 24 hours) and another 22 deaths from COVID-19.
Netanyahu has ordered the country's hospitals to prepare to see the number of seriously ill patients, currently just over 800, increase to 5,000, six times the estimated normal capacity.
This brings the number of people infected since the start of the pandemic to some 245,000 and the number of deaths to 1,552 in a country of some nine million people.
