RAMALLAH, Monday, July 27, 2020 (WAFA) – The government announced today evening that it would ease the coronavirus lockdown ahead of upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday, and that a full lockdown will be imposed during the holiday.
Government spokesman Ibrahim Milhem announced that the government has decided to allow the public to celebrate Eid al-Adha in public spaces provided that they comply with the precautionary measures to control the spread of the infectious disease, namely wearing face masks, maintaining physical distancing, bringing their own prayer rugs and restricting the festival sermon to 15 minutes.
As part of the ease ahead of the feast, businesses will be allowed to open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until 12:00 PM, while restaurants will be allowed to open ahead and throughout the festival provided that they rely on the take-out and delivery orders.
Meanwhile, general lockdown will be reinstated from Friday morning to Sunday morning. Accordingly, travel will be prohibited in and between all governorates, and only pharmacies and bakeries are allowed to open.
The government also decided to maintain the ban on all social gatherings, including wedding parties and condolence gatherings, in all governorates, the ban on working in the Israeli colonial settlements as well as the closure of all infected areas.
Part of the government instructions were concerned with Palestinian workers employed in Israel.
The government instructed all workers planning to return from their workplaces inside Israel to comply with the precautionary health measures, and place themselves under home quarantine.
It urged Palestinian citizens of Israel to refrain from visiting the West Bank given the surge in the coronavirus cases.
It pointed out that the Health Ministry will set up and equip more quarantine centers in cooperation with the United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
According to the latest coronavirus data, the confirmed cases in the occupied territories (West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza) reached 13,457.
Out of the 13,457 cases, 10,546 are recorded in the West Bank, 75 in the Gaza Strip and 2,836 in East Jerusalem.
Recoveries have totaled 4,556, including 1,274 in East Jerusalem, and the death toll reached 80, leaving a total of 8,821 active cases.
K.F.
