Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday announced a partial shutdown of the economy with aim of stemming the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
The Health Ministry said the number of Israelis infected with COVID-19 was now up to 200, two of them are said to be in serious condition. Nearly 40,000 Israelis are currently under home quarantine, as are 2,479 healthcare workers, including 949 doctors.
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"This is a dynamic situation, so our policy is dynamic and meant to minimize morbidity," Netanyahu said in a press conference.
"Israel is doing much better than most countries around the world. But this is a developing situation; this disease keeps changing and we're constantly trying to keep one step ahead of it," he continued. "We can overcome it and defeat it but that requires all of us to change our daily routine so as to stop the spread of the disease. This is about saving lives."
Earlier Saturday, it was reported that the government received the legal go-ahead to track coronavirus patients using their cellphones and other digital devices.
Urging the public to adhere to the Health Ministry directive abut hygiene and social distancing, Netanyahu explained that "we are fighting an invisible enemy and we have to do everything in our power to stop it.
"We will be using technological measures. We have received legal permission to track people using digital means … yes, this compromises privacy but we are fighting a war and public health comes first. It's paramount," he stressed.
Netanyahu said that all public gatherings exceeding 10 people will be barred, essentially shuttering all leisure venues – cafés, restaurants, theaters, cinemas and retails stores.
He stressed that all essential services will continue operating, as will banks, ATMs, gas stations, healthcare services, and pharmacies.
"There will not be a shortage of food or medicines," he said, following a day during which Israelis stormed supermarkets despite multiple government officials saying that is not necessary.
Netanyahu said that public transportation will also be restricted, adding the implementation of the move was still under review.
As part of the extensive limitations imposed on the public as part of the effort to step the pandemic, Netanyahu has ordered the shuttering of all educational institutions, from daycares to universities. He further urges all non-essential private sector companies to let employees work from home.
The strict measures announced on Saturday are expected to remain in force for at least five weeks. The partial shutdown is expected to cost the economy about 2 billion shekels ($545 million) a week, Channel 12 News reported.
The decision about shuttering the economy, perhaps prior to declaring a state of national emergency followed extensive discussions by the Finance Ministry.
Channel 12 News quoted Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon as saying that while shuttering the economy was obviously necessary, reviving it may prove it will be impossible.
Meanwhile, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said that Monday's swearing-in of the new parliament will go ahead as scheduled.
"The importance of parliamentary oversight during a period of crisis is not in doubt," he said in a statement.
On Thursday, it was decided that the 120 lawmakers will be sworn-in in three separate batches of 40 lawmakers, to comply with Health Ministry guidelines limiting gatherings to 100 people. It is unclear at this time whether this will change given the new directive about public gatherings.
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