As Israel sees record-high numbers of new coronavirus infections, the country’s Cabinet Ministers agreed this week to introduce a series of new lockdown measures, including the open-ended closures of restaurants and gyms.
These orders were due to be enforced from 5pm today, however Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today backtracked on the decision after widespread threats from restauranteurs to defy the orders. The orders will now be implemented on Tuesday morning.
Israeli Health Ministry figures showed 1,832 new infections confirmed over the past 24 hours and three more deaths were recorded overnight, bringing the total to 387 fatalities.
The government order had only been approved overnight and was met with significant resistance among restaurant owners who complained that the move would cause massive financial losses and food waste, and that insufficient time was provided for the affected businesses to prepare themselves for the new restrictions.
The new restrictions come amid growing discontent over the Israeli Prime Minister’s response to the pandemic, with protesters yesterday gathering outside his residence in Jerusalem.
According to a Channel 13 poll published on Sunday, 61% of Israelis disapprove of Netanyahu’s overall handling of the COVID-19 crisis, and 75% are unhappy with how his government has handled the economic fallout of the pandemic. Only 16% said that they were satisfied with the government’s economic response.
This week, the Netanyahu unveiled a stimulus plan, announcing that the government would distribute stipends to all Israelis, regardless of financial standing, in order to ease the economic impact of the coronavirus on the population.
Anyone above 18 will receive $217. Families with one child will receive $580, those with two children $725 and those with three children or more will get $870.
