Cabinet Mulls Proposal for New Lockdown in Yerushalayim Neighborhoods

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a meeting Thursday with health and other officials regarding restrictions on coronavirus hotspots, and intends to announce lockdown measures in three neighborhoods in Yerushalayim. In addition, a lockdown has been enforced in two neighborhoods in the Bedouin town of Hura, near Be’er Sheva.

Hura has had at least 30 new infections in the last three days, according to Health Ministry statistics, becoming the second-highest Israeli community in virus cases per capita.

According to reports, the government will ease restrictions in Netivot and in the Menuchah V’nachalah neighborhood in Beit Shemesh, after the outbreaks there are deemed to be under control. However, Ramat Beit Shemesh Bet will remain under lockdown. In Menuchah V’nachalah, most of the residents that were diagnosed with the coronavirus have agreed to leave town, while in Ramat Beit Shemesh Bet, the residents refused to leave.

The areas in Yerushalayim that are being considered for lockdown are Kiryat Belz, Kiryat Sanz and some of the streets in the Romema neighborhood. The final decision is likely to be made later in the day and, if passed, will be in effect until Sunday.