Israeli medical staff work at the COVID-19 isolation ward of Kaplan Medical Center in central Israeli city of Rehovot, Israel on Sept. 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Gil Cohen Magen)
Amid a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, Israel reimposes a nationwide lockdown which will last for at least three weeks.
JERUSALEM, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- A full lockdown, aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus, took effect in Israel on Friday at 2 p.m. local time.
On Friday morning, just a few hours before the closure, Israel's Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Health announced in a joint statement a change in the distance limit for people to travel from home.
According to the statement, Israel's Corona Cabinet approved, during a conference call, to restrict people from traveling for over 1 km from home, instead of 500 meters as previously planned.
The lockdown will last at least for three weeks, and during that period of time four Jewish holidays, including the Jewish New Year, will be observed.
It will also include a ban on gatherings of more than 20 people in open spaces and more than 10 people indoors.
The lockdown also includes the closure of most shops, and all places of culture, entertainment, leisure and tourism.
Some workplaces will work in a partial format, with many employees working from home.
Passengers wearing face masks are seen at the departure hall of Ben Gurion international airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sept. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Gil Cohen Magen)
However, Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport remained open under restrictions, when only flights that have already been approved will be operated.
Schools and kindergartens in Israel were already closed on Thursday, due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in recent days. ■
