RAMALLAH, Saturday, March 20, 2021 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Government announced today a partial easing of the public lockdown measures, including a reopening of commercial stores and public venues, while extending weekend and night lockdown for two weeks.

In a press statement, Government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem announced the following measures as part of the efforts to combat the ongoing third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine:

A full lockdown of all public, private and UNRWA-run schools of all levels, with the exception of the students of the General Secondary Education (Tawjihi), and shifting to distance e-learning programs.

A full lockdown of all universities, academic and vocational institutes of all levels, while shifting to distance e-learning programs.

A full lockdown of kindergartens, with the exception of nursery schools whose work should be decided by the Ministry of Social Development.

A lockdown of in-door health clubs of all kinds. Outdoors activities are allowed.

A full ban on traffic and movement of individuals between provinces.

A full ban on the movement of individuals and traffic of all kinds in all of the country every day from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m.

A full lockdown on Fridays and Saturdays, with the exception of pharmacies and bakeries.

A full lockdown of any province, city, town, village, refugee camp, or area where there is a spike in daily infections.

Weddings, parties, funeral homes and any other forms of public gathering are prohibited.

The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs is entitled to regulate prayers in mosques and churches outside of lockdown areas and times.

Ministers and heads of government agencies are asked to regulate the working hours of their employees and with a maximum capacity of 30 percent.

Courts of all levels are asked to reduce the number of attendees to the minimum possible level.

Private institutions and productive and industrial sectors should be working at a maximum capacity of 30 percent of their staff.

Commercial stores and restaurants are allowed to reopen while maintaining strict health measures, and at a maximum capacity of 30 percent of their staff.

Cafes are only allowed to open for delivery services.

Banks are asked to operate at an emergency pace and in accordance with the instructions of the Palestine Monetary Authority.

Private hospitals and dispensaries are asked to allocate a ward for COVID-19 patients.

M.N