RAMALLAH, Monday, March 16, 2020 (WAFA) – Minutes after the governor of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm, Issam Abu Bakr, has declared a lockdown on his city after a second coronavirus case was confirmed in it today, Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh issued a statement saying the lockdown has not been officially declared yet.

He said the governor made a recommendation due to the situation following the discovery of the new coronavirus case in his city, but that the city remains open and no decision has been taken to lock it down.

The matter is still under consideration, he said.

Abu Bakr had issued an order locking down the city and barring entry or exit from it as a precautionary step against the spread of the disease.

Bethlehem, in the south of the West Bank where 37 of the 39 corona cases confirmed in Palestine are located, has been locked down since day one of the discovery of the disease 10 days ago.

M.K.