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'{{short description|Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Israel}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox outbreak | name = [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in [[Israel]] | image = Ibngvirol001.jpg | caption = [[Magen David Adom]] worker dressed in protective gear walks beside a mobile intensive care unit | map1 = | legend1 = | disease = [[COVID-19]] | virus_strain = [[SARS-CoV-2]] | location = Israel | first_outbreak = [[Wuhan]], [[Hubei]], China | index_case = [[Ramat Gan]] | arrival_date = 21 February 2020<br />({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=02|day1=21|year1=2020|month2=|day2=|year2=}}) | confirmed_cases = 16,793<ref name=info>{{cite web|url=https://t.me/MOHreport|title=קורונה - משרד הבריאות|website=Telegram|language=Hebrew}}</ref> | active_cases = 1,942 | severe_cases = 41<ref name=info/> | recovery_cases = 14,570<ref name=info/> | deaths = 281<ref name=info/> | fatality_rate = 1.67%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coronatracker.com/country/il|title=Corona Tracker Overview|website=.coronatracker.com}}</ref> | website = {{URL|https://govextra.gov.il/ministry-of-health/corona/corona-virus-en/|govextra.gov.il/ministry-of-health/corona}} }} The '''COVID-19 pandemic in Israel''' is part of the [[COVID-19 pandemic|worldwide pandemic]] of [[coronavirus disease 2019]] ({{nowrap|COVID-19}}) caused by [[severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus&nbsp;2]] ({{nowrap|SARS-CoV-2}}). The first case in [[Israel]] was confirmed on 21 February 2020, after a female citizen tested positive for [[coronavirus disease 2019]] at the [[Sheba Medical Center]] after return from [[quarantine]] on the ''[[Diamond Princess (ship)|Diamond Princess]]'' ship in Japan.<ref name="timesofisrael.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-confirms-first-coronavirus-case-as-cruise-ship-returnee-diagnosed/|title=Israel confirms first coronavirus case as cruise ship returnee diagnosed|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|date=21 February 2020|access-date=21 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221131453/https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-confirms-first-coronavirus-case-as-cruise-ship-returnee-diagnosed/|archive-date=21 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, a 14-day [[home isolation]] rule was instituted for anyone who had visited South Korea or Japan, and a ban was placed on non-residents and non-citizens who were in South Korea for 14 days before their arrival.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://honestreporting.com/how-israel-dealing-coronavirus/|title=How is Israel Dealing With Coronavirus?|date=16 March 2020}}</ref> Beginning on 11 March, Israel began enforcing [[social distancing]] and other rules to limit the spread of infection. Gatherings were first restricted to no more than 100 people,<ref name="jpost.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Coronavirus-cases-climb-to-77-second-case-of-unknown-origin-confirmed-620578|title=Israel limits gatherings to 100 people as coronavirus cases climb to 97|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=11 March 2020}}</ref> and on 15 March this figure was lowered to 10 people, with attendees advised to keep a distance of {{cvt|2|m}} between one another.<ref name="No more daycare, restaurants, gyms">{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/no-more-daycare-restaurants-gyms-or-prayer-quorums-the-new-virus-regulations/|title=No more daycare, restaurants, gyms or prayer quorums: The new virus regulations|date=15 March 2020}}</ref> On 19 March, Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] declared a national state of emergency, saying that existing restrictions would henceforth be legally enforceable, and violators would be fined. Israelis were not allowed to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary. Essential services—including food stores, pharmacies, and banks—would remain open. Restrictions on movement were further tightened on 25 March and 1 April, with all individuals instructed to cover their noses and mouths outdoors. As coronavirus diagnoses spiked in the city of [[Bnei Brak]], reaching nearly 1,000 infected individuals at the beginning of April,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rktqtmXPI|title=Bnei Brak coronavirus cases near 1000 as Haredi cities hit hardest|date=2 April 2020|access-date=2 April 2020|work=Ynetnews}}</ref> the cabinet voted to declare the city a "restricted zone", limiting entry and exit for a period of one week. Coinciding with the [[Passover Seder]] on the night of April 8, lawmakers ordered a 3-day travel ban and mandated that Israelis stay within {{cvt|100|m}} of their home on the night of the Seder. On 12 April, [[Haredi Judaism|Haredi]] neighborhoods in [[Jerusalem]] were placed under closure. On 20 March, an 88-year-old [[Holocaust survivor]] in Jerusalem who suffered from previous illnesses was announced as the country's first casualty.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rabinovitch |first1=Ari |title=Israel reports first coronavirus fatality |url=https://news.yahoo.com/israel-reports-first-coronavirus-fatality-212259437.html |website=news.yahoo.com |publisher=Reuters |date=20 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Estrin |first1=Daniel |title=Holocaust Survivor Is First Coronavirus Death In Israel |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/03/21/819541569/holocaust-survivor-is-first-coronavirus-death-in-israel |website=NPR |language=en |date=21 March 2020}}</ref> [[Ministry of Health (Israel)|Minister of Health]] [[Yaakov Litzman]] and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus on 2 April; Litzman was the first member of the cabinet to be infected.<ref name="The Times of Israel">{{cite news |title=Israel's Health Minister Litzman and his wife test positive for coronavirus |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/health-minister-litzman-wife-test-positive-for-coronavirus/ |access-date=2 April 2020 |work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> The pandemic comes amid the [[2019–20 Israeli political crisis|absence of an official government]], as no ruling coalition has been formed following the [[2020 Israeli legislative election]], the third since the dissolution of the government in December 2018. Netanyahu continued to act as prime minister and has been accused of adopting additional powers in the effort to monitor and contain the spread of the virus. ==Timeline== {{COVID-19 pandemic data/Israel medical cases chart}} ===First cases=== On 21 February, Israel confirmed the first case of [[COVID-19]]. A female Israeli citizen who had flown home from Japan after being [[quarantine]]d on the ''[[Diamond Princess (ship)|Diamond Princess]]'' tested positive at [[Sheba Medical Center]].<ref name="timesofisrael.com" /> On 23 February, a second former ''Diamond Princess'' passenger tested positive, and was admitted to a hospital for isolation.<ref name="JP-Il2">{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Netanyahu-International-coronavirus-quarantine-list-may-grow-618492|title=Second coronavirus case in Israel confirmed, as panic increases|publisher=The Jerusalem Post|date=23 February 2020|access-date=24 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224174050/https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Netanyahu-International-coronavirus-quarantine-list-may-grow-618492|archive-date=24 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 February, a man, who had returned from Italy on 23 February, tested positive and was admitted to Sheba Medical Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJkE9zHVI|title=Israel confirms its first case of coronavirus|publisher=Ynet News|date=27 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227113139/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJkE9zHVI|archive-date=27 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 28 February, his wife also tested positive.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Health-Ministry-confirms-second-case-of-coronavirus-in-Israel-619189|title=Health Ministry confirms second case of coronavirus in Israel|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com|access-date=2020-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228090123/https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Health-Ministry-confirms-second-case-of-coronavirus-in-Israel-619189|archive-date=28 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 1 March, a female soldier tested positive for the virus. She had been working at the toy store managed by the same man diagnosed on 27 February.<ref name="15cases">{{cite web |last1=Hilai |first1=Sivan |last2=Rubinstein |first2=Roy |title=Number of people infected with coronavirus in Israel jumps to 15 |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/B1Z006ThVI |website=Ynet News|date=4 March 2020 |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> On 3 March, three more cases were confirmed. Two contracted the virus at the same toy store: a middle school student who worked at the store, and a school deputy principal who shopped there. Following this, 1,150 students entered a two-week quarantine. One other person, who had returned from a trip to Italy on 29 February, also tested positive for the virus.<ref name="15cases" /> [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]] professor [[Mark Steiner]] died of the virus on April 6.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://dailynous.com/2020/04/06/mark-steiner-1942-2020/ | title=Mark Steiner (1942-2020)| date=6 April 2020}}</ref> ==Government response== The government has set [https://govextra.gov.il/ministry-of-health/corona/corona-virus-en/ a multi-lingual website] with information and instructions regarding the pandemic. Among the languages: English, Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Amharic, French, Spanish, Ukrainian, Romanian, Thai, Chinese, Tigrinya, Hindi, Filipino. ===Travel and entry restrictions=== On 26 January 2020, Israel advised against non-essential travel to China.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Halon |first1=Eytan |title=Israel warns against all non-essential travel to China |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-warns-against-all-non-essential-travel-to-China-615417 |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=26 January 2020}}</ref> On 30 January, Israel suspended all flights from China.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kandel |first1=Rina Rozenberg |last2=Efrati |first2=Ido |title=Israel Suspends All Flights From China, Isolates Arrivals Over Coronavirus Outbreak |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israel-suspends-all-flights-from-china-isolates-arrivals-over-coronavirus-outbreak-1.8472297 |work=Haaretz |date=30 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref> On 17 February, Israel extended the ban to include arrivals from Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel bans foreigners coming from East Asian countries over virus fears |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-bans-foreigners-coming-from-east-asian-countries-over-virus-fears/ |work=The Times of Israel |date=17 February 2020}}</ref> On 22 February, a flight from Seoul, South Korea, landed at [[Ben Gurion International Airport]]. An ad hoc decision was made to allow only Israeli citizens to disembark the plane, and all non-Israeli citizens aboard returned to South Korea.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Raz-Chaimovich |first1=Michal |title=Israel refuses entry to Korean Air passengers |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-refuses-entry-to-korean-air-passengers-1001319306 |website=Globes |language=he |date=23 February 2020}}</ref> Later, Israel barred the entry of non-residents or non-citizens of Israel who were in South Korea during the 14 days prior to their arrival in Israel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blumentha |first1=Itay |title=Israel extends entry ban over coronavirus to South Korea and Japan |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJYoiRCmL |website=Ynetnews |language=en |date=22 February 2020}}</ref> The same directive was applied to those arriving from Japan starting 23 February.<ref name="JP-Il2" /> On 26 February, Israel issued a travel warning to Italy, and urged cancelling of all travel abroad.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Ynet |title=Israel issues travel warning to Italy, urges cancelling all travel abroad |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/S1QOoXNVU |work=Ynet News |date=26 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref> ===14-day self-isolation=== On 21 February, Israel instituted a 14-day [[home isolation]] rule for anyone who had been in South Korea or Japan.<ref name="JP-Il2" /> A number of tourists tested positive after visiting Israel, including members of a group from South Korea,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/health-ministry-korean-nationals-who-visited-israel-tested-positive-for-coronavirus-1.8564475|title=Korean Nationals Who Visited Israel, West Bank Tested Positive for Coronavirus|newspaper=Haaretz|date=24 February 2020|last1=Efrati|first1=Ido}}</ref> two people from Romania,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/8-more-people-tested-positive-for-coronavirus-in-bucharest-25-cases-confirmed-overall-in-romania/|title=8 more people tested positive for Coronavirus in Bucharest, 25 cases confirmed overall in Romania|website=Romania Journal|date=10 March 2020}}</ref> a group of Greek pilgrims,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/greek-tourist-who-recently-visited-israel-dies-of-coronavirus/|title=Greek tourist who recently visited Israel dies of coronavirus|agency=Romania Journal|date=12 March 2020}}</ref> and a woman from the U.S. [[State of New York]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-5-2020/|title=Virus cases in New York state double to 22|date=5 March 2020}}</ref> 200 Israeli students were quarantined after being exposed to a group of religious tourists from South Korea.<ref name="JP-Il2" /> An additional 1,400 Israelis were quarantined after having traveled abroad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1nXPa7E8|title=1,600 Israelis are in 14-day quarantine for coronavirus|website=ynetnews|first1=Sivan|last1=Hilaie|date=2020-02-26|access-date=2020-02-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227093422/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1nXPa7E8|archive-date=27 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 9 March, Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] declared a mandatory quarantine for all people entering Israel, requiring all entrants to quarantine themselves for 14 days upon entering the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1237075668967534592|title=Twitter|website=mobile.twitter.com|access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="quarantine.bbc">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51809818|title=Israel declares 14-day quarantine for all arrivals|work=BBC News|date=9 March 2020|access-date=10 March 2020|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> The order was effective immediately for all returning Israelis, and would apply beginning on 13 March for all foreign citizens, who must show that they have arranged for accommodation during their quarantine period.<ref name="quarantine.bbc" /> ===Voting booths for quarantined citizens=== On 2 March, the [[2020 Israeli legislative election]] was held. Multiple secluded voting booths were established for 5,630 quarantined Israeli citizens who were eligible to vote.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Jaffe-Hoffman |first1=Maayan |last2=Hoffman |first2=Gil |url=https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/With-5630-Israelis-in-isolation-Health-Ministry-says-go-vote-619391 |title=With 5,630 Israelis in isolation, Health Ministry says 'go vote' |work=Jerusalem Post}}</ref> 4,073 citizens voted in the coronavirus-special voting booths. After the election, numerous Israelis were in quarantine.<ref>{{cite web |last=Oster |first=Marcy |date=March 2, 2020 |title=Israelis in quarantine due to coronavirus exposure vote at special polling locations |url=https://www.jta.org/2020/03/02/israel/israelis-in-quarantine-due-to-coronavirus-exposure-exercise-their-right-to-vote-at-special-polling-locations |website=jta.org}}</ref> ===Court freeze=== On 15 March, [[Ministry of Justice (Israel)|Justice Minister]] [[Amir Ohana]] expanded his powers and announced that non-urgent court activity would be frozen. As a result, the [[Investigations against Benjamin Netanyahu|corruption trial]] of Prime Minister Netanyahu was postponed from 17 March to 24 May. The [[Movement for Quality Government in Israel]] urged the Attorney General to stay the new regulations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-netanyahu-trial-postponed-by-two-months-1.8675477|title=Netanyahu Trial Postponed as Justice Minister Freezes Courts Over Coronavirus Emergency|date=15 March 2020}}</ref> ===Mobile phone tracking of infected individuals=== On 15 March, the Israeli government proposed allowing the [[Shin Bet|Israel Security Agency]] (ISA) to track the prior movements of people diagnosed with coronavirus through their mobile phones. The security service would not require a [[court order]] for its surveillance. The stated goal of the measure was to identify people with whom infected individuals came into contact in the two weeks prior to their diagnosis, and to dispatch text messages informing those people that they must enter the 14-day self-quarantine. The security measure was to be in place for only 30 days after approval by a [[Knesset]] subcommittee, and all records were to be deleted after that point. Critics branded the proposal an [[invasion of privacy]] and [[civil liberties]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/government-okays-mass-surveillance-of-israelis-phones-to-curb-coronavirus/|title=Government okays mass surveillance of Israelis' phones to curb coronavirus|first=Judah Ari|last=Gross|date=15 March 2020|access-date=15 March 2020|work=[[The Times of Israel]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/coronavirus-cases-in-israel-spike-to-164-nearly-2-500-medical-officials-quarantined-1.8671075|title=Live Updates Israel Approves Cellphone Tracking for Coronavirus Patients as Cases Rise to 213|date=15 March 2020|access-date=15 March 2020|work=[[Haaretz]]}}</ref> On 17 March, at 1:30 AM, a Knesset committee approved the contact-tracing program.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-committee-chair-slams-cabinets-phone-tracking-decision-as-power-grab/|title=Knesset committee chair slams cabinet's phone tracking decision as 'power grab'|date=17 March 2020}}</ref> Within the first two days, the [[Ministry of Health (Israel)|Ministry of Health]] text-messaged 400 individuals who had been in proximity to an infected person, and told them to enter a 14-day self-quarantine. On 19 March, the [[Supreme Court of Israel]] heard petitions to halt the contact-tracing program, submitted by the [[Association for Civil Rights in Israel]], and [[Adalah (legal center)|Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights]], and issued an interim order.<ref>[https://versa.cardozo.yu.edu/sites/default/files/upload/opinions/Ben%20Meir%20v.%20Prime%20Minister.pdf HCJ 2109/20 ''Association for Civil Rights v. Prime Minister'' (19 March 2020)]</ref><ref>[https://versa.cardozo.yu.edu/viewpoints/coronavirus-interim-order-update Updated decision in HCJ 2109/20 ''Association for Civil Rights v. Prime Minister'' (24 March 2020)]</ref> The same day, several hundred protesters converged on the Knesset to protest the phone surveillance and other restrictions on citizens' movements, as well as the shutdown of the judicial and legislative branches of the government. Police arrested three protesters for violating the ban on gatherings over 10 people, and also blocked dozens of cars from entering Jerusalem and approaching the Knesset building.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/protesters-accuse-netanyahu-of-exploiting-pandemic-for-power-grab_n_5e73ae1dc5b6eab779442d65|title=Protesters Accuse Netanyahu Of Exploiting Pandemic For Power Grab|first=Aron|last=Heller|agency=Associated Press|publisher=[[HuffPost]]|date=March 19, 2020|access-date=March 19, 2020}}</ref> On 26 March, the ISA said contact tracing had led to over 500 Israelis being notified who were then diagnosed with coronavirus.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SyR8DwqUU |title = Shin Bet: Over 500 Israelis diagnosed with coronavirus thanks to agency's efforts|date = 26 March 2020}}</ref> On April 26, 2020, the Supreme Court issued its judgment on the contact-tracing petitions. In granting the petitions, the Court held that the Government's decision passed constitutional review under the exigent circumstances at the time it was made, but that further recourse to the Israel Security Agency for the purpose of contact tracing would require primary legislation in the form of a temporary order that would meet the requirements of the Limitations Clause of Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty. The Court further held that due to the fundamental importance of freedom of the press, ISA contact tracing of journalists who tested positive for the virus would require consent, and in the absence of consent, a journalist would undergo an individual epidemiological investigation, and would be asked to inform any sources with whom he was in contact over the 14 days prior to his diagnosis.<ref>[https://versa.cardozo.yu.edu/opinions/ben-meir-v-prime-minister-0 English translation of the Supreme Court's judgment in HCJ 2109/20 ''Ben Meir v. Prime Minister'']</ref> ===Medical response=== As late as 15 March, doctors complained that guidelines for testing were too restrictive.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israel-health-ministry-s-refusal-to-ok-tests-leads-to-dumping-of-samples-1.8675058|title=Coronavirus in Israel: Refusal to Approve Tests Leads to Dumping Samples |newspaper=Haaretz |agency=Haaretz|date=15 March 2020|last1=Efrati |first1=Ido}}</ref> On 16 March, the Health Ministry approved a number of experimental treatments for patients suffering from [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Health-Ministry-approves-experimental-treatments-for-coronavirus-621209|title=Health Ministry approves experimental treatments for coronavirus|date=16 March 2020}}</ref> On 18 March, the Defense Ministry took over purchasing of Corona-related gear.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-18-2020/|agency=The Times of Israel|title=Defense Ministry takes over buying corona-related gear amid claims of shortages|date=18 March 2020}}</ref> On the same day, the [[Israel Institute for Biological Research]] announced that they are working on a [[COVID-19 vaccine]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Efrati |first1=Ido |last2=Levinson |first2=Chaim |title=Israeli Research Center to Announce It Developed Coronavirus Vaccine, Sources Say |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-coronavirus-vaccine-israel-biological-research-institute-develope-1.8665074 |work=Haaretz |date=18 March 2020}}</ref> On 29 March, [[Magen David Adom]] announced that it will collect [[blood plasma]] from recovered [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] patients to treat those most severely affected with the infection.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/1585476888-israel-mda-to-collect-plasma-from-recovered-coronavirus-donors-to-treat-severely-ill|title=Israel: MDA to collect plasma from recovered coronavirus donors to treat severely ill|date=29 March 2020|work=i24 News|access-date=|url-status=live}}</ref> === Repatriation of overseas citizens === By the third week in March, [[El Al]], Israel's national air carrier, responded to a government request to send rescue flights to Peru, India, Australia, Brazil, and Costa Rica to bring home hundreds of Israelis who were stranded around the world due to the worldwide pandemic. On 22 March, 550 Israelis returned from India; a few days before about 1,100 Israeli travelers were repatriated from Peru.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HkK1211B88|title=El Al answers government's plea to rescue more Israelis stranded overseas|date=2020-03-22|website=ynetnews|language=en|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref> ==Economic impact== ===Social distancing and closure of public spaces=== On 10 March, Israel began limiting gatherings to 2,000 people. A day later, on March 11, Israel further limited gatherings to 100 people.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} On 14 March, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced new regulations and stated the need to "adopt a new way of life". The Health Ministry posted new regulations, effective 15 March. These included banning gatherings of more than 10 people, and closure of all educational institutions, among them daycare centers, special education, youth movements, and after-school programs. The list of venues required to close included: malls, restaurants, hotel dining rooms, pubs, dance clubs, gyms, pools, beaches, water and amusement parks, zoos and petting zoos, bathhouses and ritual baths for men, beauty and massage salons, event and conference venues, public boats and cable cars, and heritage sites. Take-away restaurants, supermarkets, and pharmacies were to remain open. The [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]] and [[Dome of the Rock]] closed to prevent contamination of the holy sites.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/jerusalem-al-aqsa-mosque-shut-precaution-coronavirus-200315103612710.html|title=Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque shut as precaution against coronavirus|agency=Al Jazeera|date=15 March 2020}}</ref> As a result of the government's directive for citizens to remain at home, there was an increase in calls to [[List of domestic violence hotlines|domestic violence hotlines]], and [[women's shelter]]s were close to full capacity, both due to new arrivals and to current residents who remained due to the pandemic.<ref name=abuse>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-families-cooped-up-at-home-due-to-virus-domestic-violence-complaints-soar/|title=With families cooped up at home due to virus, domestic violence complaints soar|date=March 23, 2020|access-date=March 23, 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> <gallery style="text-align:left"> File:Jerusalem light rail social distancing forbidden seats signs.jpg|To encourage social distancing, half of the seats on the [[Jerusalem Light Rail]] were marked with signs saying "Sitting on this seat is prohibited". File:Bus sitting restrictions in Israel during COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel.jpg|The government prohibited sitting on the front seats of buses to reduce the chance of infecting the driver. The seats were wrapped with tape. File:Social distancing Jerusalem supermarket aisle.jpg|alt=Tiles on supermarket aisle floor. Every seven tiles there is a sticker saying "For the sake of your health, stand here" in Hebrew.|Stickers in supermarket aisles encourage people to distance themselves from one another: "For the sake of your health, stand here". </gallery> ===School closures=== On 12 March, Israel announced that all universities and schools would close until after the [[Passover]] (spring) break.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Coronavirus-Teachers-Union-calls-on-Education-Ministry-to-shutter-schools-620688|title=109 Israelis diagnosed with coronavirus, schools to close|agency=The Jerusalem Post|date=12 March 2020}}</ref> After the break, schools remained closed<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5711964,00.html|title=בתי ספר בהדרגה, בלי בתי קפה: אסטרטגיית היציאה|date=2020-04-10|website=ynet|language=he|access-date=2020-04-23}}</ref> and students learned online. On 3 May, grades one to three were allowed to resume school, with restrictions, and not in all cities. In addition, grades eleven and twelve were allowed to hold revisions for the upcoming [[Bagrut certificate|Bagrut]] exams. ===Unemployment=== On 16 March, Israel imposed limitations on the public and private sectors. All non-critical government and local authority workers were placed on paid leave until the end of the Passover holiday. Private sector firms exceeding 10 employees were required to reduce staff present in the workplace by 70%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Intern-at-Ichilov-contracts-coronavirus-as-Israeli-cases-spike-to-250-621142|title=Coronavirus: Israel places severe limits on public, private sectors|date=16 March 2020}}</ref> By 1 April, the national unemployment rate had reached 24.4 percent. In the month of March alone, more than 844,000 individuals applied for unemployment benefits—90 percent of whom had been placed on unpaid leave due to the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/The-number-of-unemployed-in-Israel-tops-1-million-for-the-first-time-623151|title=Israeli unemployment exceeds one million: 24.4% of workforce|first=Eytan|last=Halon|date=1 April 2020|access-date=1 April 2020|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> ===Public transportation=== [[File:Beersheba stabling yard a 01.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Israel Railways]] stabling yard in [[Beersheba]] is full due to the coronavirus shutdown]] As of 19 March, public transportation ridership was down 38.5 percent compared to before the virus outbreak. Public bus operations were strictly curtailed by the government, which placed an 8 p.m. curfew on bus operations nightly, and halted all public transportation between Thursday night at 8 p.m. and Sunday morning,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-public-transit-usage-down-385-percent-compared-to-before-coronavirus-621679|title=Israel public transit usage down 38.5% compared to before coronavirus|date=March 20, 2020|access-date=March 20, 2020|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> going beyond the usual hiatus on [[public transportation in Israel]] during [[Shabbat]] (from Friday evening to Saturday evening).{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} As of 22 March Israel's [[Ministry of Transport and Road Safety]] and its National Public Transportation Authority instituted a notification system allowing passengers using public transportation to inquire whether they had shared a ride with a person sick with COVID-19. The travel histories will be stored through the use of the country's electronic bus card passes, known as [[Rav-Kav]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3802936,00.html|title=Israel's Bus Pass Card to Notify Users if They Shared a Ride With a Covid-19 Patient|last=Pick|first=Lior Gutman and Adi|date=2020-03-22|website=CTECH - www.calcalistech.com|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref> ===Israel embassy in Greece closure=== On 9 March, after it was discovered that an employee at the [[Embassy of Israel, Athens|Israeli embassy in Greece]] had contracted coronavirus and spread it to two family members, it was announced that the embassy was temporarily shutting down.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/worker-at-israeli-embassy-in-athens-2-family-members-diagnosed-with-coronavirus/|title=Worker at Israeli embassy in Athens, 2 family members diagnosed with coronavirus|agency=Times of Israel|date=March 9, 2020}}</ref> === Economic rescue package === On 30 March, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced an economic rescue package totaling 80 billion shekels ($22 billion), saying that was 6% of the country's GDP. The money will be allocated to health care (10 billion shekels); welfare and unemployment (30 billion shekels) aid for small and large businesses (32 billion shekels), and to financial stimulus (8 billion).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Haaretz|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/coronavirus-israel-netanyahu-breaking-news-1.8720108|title=Coronavirus in Israel: Netanyahu Announces New Restrictions Barring Gatherings of Over Two|date=2020-03-30|work=Haaretz|access-date=2020-03-30|language=en}}</ref> ==Private sector reactions== ===Event cancellations=== The pandemic forced many events to be cancelled. Notwithstanding the closure of wedding halls, weddings took place in private homes with the limitation of no more than 10 participants in each room; dancing took place both indoors and in outdoor courtyards. Weddings were also held on rooftops and [[yeshiva]] courtyards. In one case, a [[Sephardi Jews|Sephardi]] couple opted to hold their wedding ceremony in an Osher Ad supermarket, which was exempt from the 10-person rule.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/corona-restrictions-force-israeli-couples-to-hold-creative--and-clandestine--weddings/2020/03/18/3c5a8916-6857-11ea-b199-3a9799c54512_story.html|title=Coronavirus restrictions force Israeli couples to hold creative — and clandestine — weddings|first=Ruth|last=Eglash|date=March 18, 2020|access-date=March 19, 2020|work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> ===Retail=== On 16 March, the [[Bank of Israel]] ordered retail banks to close, but allowed special services to remain open for elderly people.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tress |first1=Luke |title=Bank of Israel orders most retail banks closed, special services for elderly |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/bank-of-israel-orders-most-retail-banks-closed-special-services-for-elderly/ |work=Times of Israel |date=16 March 2020}}</ref> [[File:Mahane Yehuda Market closed in coronavirus outbreak.jpg|right|thumb|Entrance to the closed [[Mahane Yehuda Market]] is only allowed for shopping in the supermarkets and pharmacy (24 March).]] On 22 March, both the open-air [[Carmel Market]] in [[Tel Aviv]] and the open-air [[Mahane Yehuda Market]] in Jerusalem were closed by police.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-israel/2020_q1/Article-743beaedb510171026.htm|title=תיעוד: שוטרים עוברים בשוק הכרמל וסוגרים את הדוכנים|trans-title=Documentation: Police officers pass through the Carmel Market and close the stands|date=22 March 2020|access-date=24 March 2020|work=[[Keshet Media Group|Mako]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kolhair.co.il/jerusalem-news/126083/|title=כעת, שוטרים החלו בסגירת שוק מחנה יהודה|language=Hebrew|trans-title=Now, police have begun closing the Mahane Yehuda Market|first=Shlomi|last=Heller|date=22 March 2020|access-date=24 March 2020|work=[[Kol Ha'ir]]}}</ref> [[File:Empty egg shelf in Jerusalem, April 2020.jpg|thumb|upright|An empty eggs shelf in a supermarket in Jerusalem. The sign says: "Dear clients, Because of the situation and the shortage, buying eggs is limited to 2 boxes of 12/18 units or one box of 30 units. Thank you for understanding"]] Many supermarkets in Israel experienced a shortage of eggs caused by panic buying and fear of shutdown.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/agriculture-minister-orders-egg-imports-as-panicked-buyers-spark-shortage/|title=Agriculture minister orders egg imports as panicked buyers spark shortage|last=staff|first=T. O. I.|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> ===Religious restrictions=== {{Main|Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on religion#Judaism}} The Health Ministry's rules on indoor gatherings, which were reduced from 100 to 10, still take into account the minimum number of members needed for a [[minyan]] (public prayer quorum). With stricter restrictions placed on citizens on 25 March (see below), the two [[Chief Rabbinate of Israel|Chief Rabbis of Israel]] called for all [[synagogue]]s to be closed and prayer services to be held outdoors in groups of 10, with {{cvt|2|m}} between each worshipper.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/synagogues-to-close-under-new-coronavirus-regulations-1.8708347|title=Chief Rabbis Order Synagogues Closed Following Israel's New Coronavirus Regulations|first1=Aaron|last1=Rabinowitz|first2=Noa|last2=Landau|date=25 March 2020|access-date=25 March 2020|work=Haaretz}}</ref> Many synagogues in [[Jerusalem]] were locked and prayer services held outdoors.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/prominent-rabbi-media-trying-to-slur-haredim-in-coronavirus-reports/|title=Prominent rabbi: Media trying to 'slur' Haredim in coronavirus reports|first=Nathan|last=Jeffay|date=29 March 2020|access-date=29 March 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> Due to the uptick in coronavirus diagnoses in [[Bnei Brak]] and after initially ordering his followers to ignore Health Ministry restrictions,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-bid-to-convince-rabbi-to-close-yeshivas-as-his-sect-defies-virus-rules/|title=Police bid to convince rabbi to close yeshivas as his sect defies virus rules|last=Magid|first=Jacob|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> leading [[Haredi Judaism|Haredi]] [[posek]] [[Chaim Kanievsky]] eventually issued an unprecedented statement on 29 March instructing Bnei Brak residents not to pray with a minyan at all, but rather individually at home.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bhol.co.il/news/1090634|title=הגר"ח קנייבסקי בהוראה דרמטית: אסור להתפלל במניין בבני ברק|language=Hebrew|trans-title=HaGaon Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky in Dramatic Notice: It is forbidden to pray in a minyan in Bnei Brak|first=Moshe|last=Weisberg|date=29 March 2020|access-date=29 March 2020|work=BeChadrei Hareidim}}</ref> Despite this, Kanievsky was acccused of secretly arranging public prayers at his house.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.walla.co.il/item/3350025|title=בניגוד להנחיות: לפחות עשרה מתפללים בביתו של המנהיג החרדי הבכיר|language=Hebrew|trans-title=Contrary to instructions: At least ten worshippers at top Haredi leader's house|first=Yaki|last=Adamker|date=1 April 2020|access-date=29 March 2020|work=Walla}}</ref> According to Israeli Ministry of Health statistics, 24% of all coronavirus infections in Israel with known infection points (35% of all known cases) were contracted in synagogues, 15% in hotels, and 12% in restaurants.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/synagogues-top-coronavirus-hotspot-list-epidemiological-report-finds/|title=Synagogues top coronavirus hotspot list, epidemiological report finds|first=Stuart|last=Winer|date=24 March 2020|access-date=29 March 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> After back-and-forth discussions with representatives of the [[chevra kadisha]] (Jewish religious burial society), the Health Ministry allowed burial society members to proceed with many traditional aspects of burial for coronavirus victims. Burial workers will be garbed in full [[Personal protective equipment|protective gear]] to perform the ''[[Bereavement in Judaism#Preparing the body — Taharah|taharah]]'' (ritual purification) of the body, which will then be wrapped in the customary ''tachrichim'' (linen shrouds) followed by a layer of plastic. The funeral service must be held completely outdoors. Funeral attendees do not need to wear protective gear.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/burial-society-gears-up-for-covid-19-funerals-as-health-officials-lay-out-rules/|title=Burial society gears up for COVID-19 funerals, as health officials lay out rules|first=Marissa|last=Newman|date=March 22, 2020|access-date=March 22, 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> On 26 March, the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] was closed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rasgon |first=Adam |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalems-church-of-holy-sepulchre-closes-as-israel-ups-anti-virus-measures/ |title=Jerusalem's Church of Holy Sepulchre closes as Israel ups anti-virus measures |publisher=The Times of Israel |date=2020-03-26 |access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> On 1 April, the [[Chief Rabbinate of Israel|Chief Rabbis of Israel]] published guidelines for observance of [[Passover]] laws during the outbreak.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://t.me/MOHreport/3602|title=קורונה - משרד הבריאות|website=Telegram}}</ref> The guidelines included praying at home and not in a minyan, selling [[chametz]] online, and getting rid of chametz at home in ways other than burning, so as not to go out into the streets for the traditional burning of the chametz.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} [[Ministry of Health (Israel)|Minister of Health]] [[Yaakov Litzman]] and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus on 2 April.<ref name="The Times of Israel"/> News reports later claimed that Litzman had violated the government's ban on participating in group prayer the day before he was diagnosed. His office denied the claims.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/infected-health-minister-accused-of-ignoring-rules-endangering-israels-leaders/|title=Infected health minister accused of flouting rules, endangering Israel's leaders|first=Jacob|last=Magid|date=2 April 2020|accessdate=12 April 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> ===Appreciation=== On 18 March at 6 pm, Israelis across the country applauded from their balconies for two minutes in appreciation of medical workers battling coronavirus.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/03/19/israelis-across-country-applaud-from-their-balconies-in-appreciation-of-medical-workers-battling-coronavirus/ |title = Israelis Across Country Applaud from Their Balconies in Appreciation of Medical Workers Battling Coronavirus}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.israel21c.org/israelis-applaud-healthcare-workers-in-two-minute-clap/ |title = Israelis applaud healthcare workers in two-minute clap|date = 22 March 2020}}</ref> ==National state of emergency== [[File:Mivtsa Kadesh Garden, Raanana, March 2020 09.jpg|thumb|upright|City park marked and closed due to COVID-19 outbreak]] On 19 March, Prime Minister Netanyahu declared a national state of emergency. He said that existing restrictions would henceforth be legally enforceable, and violators would be fined. Israelis were not allowed to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary. Essential services would remain open.<ref>{{cite news|agency=The Jerusalem Post|title=Netanyahu: Israelis face fines for breaking state of emergency orders|url=https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/529-Israelis-have-been-diagnosed-with-coronavirus-Health-Ministry-621536|date=19 March 2020}}</ref> News reports showed hundreds of Israelis ignoring the new ban on [[Shabbat]], 21 March, and visiting beaches, parks, and nature spots in large numbers, prompting the Ministry of Health to threaten imposing tighter restrictions on the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Hy3UFimL8|title=Health officials threaten 'stricter virus measures' if orders are ignored|date=21 March 2020|access-date=21 March 2020|work=Ynetnews}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/health-ministry-warns-of-tougher-action-as-many-venture-outside-in-warm-weather/|title=Health Ministry warns of tougher action as many venture outside in warm weather|date=21 March 2020|access-date=21 March 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> [[File:IDF Corona Laboratory. XV.jpg|thumb|[[Chief of the General Staff (Israel)|Chief of the General Staff]], [[Aviv Kochavi]] (center) examines the military laboratory for the diagnosis of coronavirus patients at [[Tzrifin|Tzrifin base]], together with Chief of [[Technological and Logistics Directorate]], [[Yitzhak Turgeman]] (left), [[Medical Corps (Israel)|Chief Medical Officer]], [[Tarif Bader]] (right), and members of the [[Military Rabbinate]]]] On 25 March, the government imposed stricter restrictions on citizens' movements. These include:<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.il/en/departments/news/25032020_01|title=The Government Approved Emergency Regulations to Restrict Activities in Order to Curb the Spread of Coronavirus in Israel|agency = Ministry of Health|date=25 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://govextra.gov.il/ministry-of-health/corona/corona-virus-en/|title=Emergency Regulations|agency=Ministry of Health}}</ref> * People must not venture more than {{cvt|100|m}} from their homes. Exceptions include: ** Employee arrival to work is permitted according to regulations ** Acquiring food, medicine, essential products and receiving essential services ** Receiving medical treatment ** Blood donation ** Legal proceedings ** Demonstrations ** Arriving at the Knesset ** Receiving care in the framework of the welfare system ** Departure of an individual or persons living in the same place for a short time and up to 100&nbsp;meters from the place of residence ** Providing medical assistance to another person or assisting a person with difficulty or distress ** Prayer in an open place, funerals, weddings, and ''[[brit milah]]'', as well as a woman's visit to the [[mikvah]], provided that they pre-arranged the time of their arrival ** Transfer of a minor to educational settings for the children of essential workers and special frameworks (in accordance with the Public Health Order). ** Transfer of a minor, whose parents live separately, by one of his parents, to the other parent's home. ** Transfer of a minor whose responsible parent is required to leave for an essential purpose if there is no responsible place for the child to be left under his care. * Private vehicles may have only 2 passengers. Taxis may have only 1 passenger. * Essential workers must be tested for fever at their workplace, and anyone with a temperature over {{convert|38|C}} will be sent home. * Violators will be subject to a 5,000 shekels fine, or up to six months' imprisonment. Beginning on April 1 the government proposed to intensify precautionary restrictions on its citizens, requiring them to: refrain from all public gatherings, including prayer quorums of 10 men; limiting outings to two people from the same household; and calling upon them to always wear face masks in public.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Haaretz|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/coronavirus-israeli-health-minister-netanyahu-mossad-chief-quarantine-1.8720108|title=Israeli Government Debates Curfew on ultra-Orthodox Coronavirus Hot Spot|date=2020-04-02|work=Haaretz|access-date=2020-04-02|language=en}}</ref> Beginning on April 12, the government required all Israelis to cover their nose and mouth when leaving their homes. Exceptions include "children under age 6; people with emotional, mental or medical conditions that would prevent them from wearing a mask; drivers in their cars; people alone in a building; and two workers who work regularly together, provided they maintain social distancing". The new law was passed on the same day that the [[World Health Organization]] questioned the efficacy of face masks for protecting healthy individuals from catching the virus.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-will-be-required-to-wear-face-masks-outdoors-under-new-order/|title=Israelis will be required to wear face masks outdoors under new order|date=7 April 2020|accessdate=12 April 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> ==Closures of cities and neighborhoods== ===Closure of Bnei Brak=== On 2 April, the cabinet voted by conference call to declare [[Bnei Brak]] a "restricted zone", limiting entry and exit to "residents, police, rescue services, those bringing essential supplies and journalists", for an initial period of one week. With a population of 200,000, Bnei Brak had the second-highest number of coronavirus cases of all Israeli cities in total numbers, and the highest rate per capita.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/cabinet-declares-bnei-brak-restricted-zone-readies-to-do-same-for-other-towns/|title=Cabinet declares Bnei Brak 'restricted zone,' readies to do same for other towns|first=Jacob|last=Magid|date=2 April 2020|access-date=2 April 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> On 10 April the closure was relaxed to allow residents to leave the city to go to work, attend a funeral of an immediate relative, or for essential medical needs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-bnei-brak-lockdown-extended-virus-cases-in-israel-up-3-percent-and-101-people-have-1.8759530|title=Bnei Brak Lockdown Extended; Virus Cases in Israel Up 3 Percent and 101 People Have Died|first=Bar|last=Peleg|date=12 April 2020|accessdate=12 April 2020|work=Haaretz}}</ref> ===Nationwide Passover Seder lockdown=== [[File:TelAvivOnPassover2020-3.jpeg|250px|thumb|right|[[Tel Aviv]] streets are empty on the first night of [[Passover]], April 8, 2020.]] Lawmakers enforced a 3-day nationwide lockdown in conjunction with the [[Passover Seder]], which took place in Israel on Wednesday night, April 8. All travel between cities was prohibited from Tuesday evening until Friday evening. From Wednesday at 3 p.m. until Thursday at 7 a.m., all Israelis were prohibited from venturing more than {{cvt|100|m}} from their home. The goal of these measures was to prevent the traditional family gatherings associated with the Passover Seder. The lockdown did not apply to Arab towns, where Passover is not observed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/passover-closure-comes-into-effect-with-all-intercity-travel-banned/|title=Passover closure comes into effect, with all intercity travel banned|date=7 April 2020|access-date=7 April 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> Despite the lockdown, several prominent politicians, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, President of Israel [[Reuven Rivlin]], [[Yisrael Beiteinu]] party leader [[Avigdor Lieberman]], [[Ministry of Aliyah and Integration|Minister of Immigration and Absorption]] [[Yoav Galant]], and [[Likud]] MK [[Nir Barkat]] were noted by the Israeli press to have celebrated the Seder or other parts of the festival with relatives who did not live with them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/rivlin-celebrated-passover-with-daughter-against-coronavirus-laws-report-624269|title=Rivlin celebrated Passover with daughter against coronavirus laws|work=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=2020-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liberman-like-netanyahu-and-rivlin-accused-of-flouting-ban-on-passover-guests/|title=Liberman, like Netanyahu and Rivlin, accused of flouting ban on Passover guests|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=2020-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/likud-mk-flouts-virus-restrictions-during-passover-apologizes/|title=Likud MK flouts virus restrictions during Passover, apologizes|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref> ===Closure of Haredi neighborhoods of Jerusalem=== On April 12, the government imposed a closure on [[Haredi Judaism|Haredi]] neighborhoods of Jerusalem, citing Ministry of Health statistics that nearly 75% of that city's coronavirus infections can be traced to these neighborhoods. The closure impacted [[Mea Shearim]], [[Geula]], [[Bukharim Quarter]], [[Romema]], [[Mekor Baruch]], [[Sanhedria]], [[Neve Yaakov]], [[Ramat Shlomo]], and [[Har Nof]]. Residents of these neighborhoods were allowed to leave to other areas only to go to work, attend funerals of immediate relatives, and for essential medical needs. The closure was opposed by the [[Mayor of Jerusalem]], [[Moshe Lion]], who reportedly told the government cabinet members: "Take the [[Ramot, Jerusalem|Ramot]] neighborhood for example — 60,000 residents and 140 of them sick. Why do we need to close off the whole neighborhood?"<ref name=jeru>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-ultra-orthodox-neighborhoods-to-be-locked-down-starting-sunday/|title=Jerusalem ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods to be locked down starting Sunday|date=12 April 2020|accessdate=12 April 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> ===Partial nationwide lockdown=== A partial nationwide lockdown was again imposed from 14–16 April, preventing Israelis from visiting family in other towns, and Jerusalem residents from leaving their own neighborhoods, in conjunction with the [[Passover#Seventh day of Passover|seventh day of Passover]] and the [[Mimouna]] holiday the following evening at the end of Passover.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-announces-fresh-nationwide-lockdown-for-end-of-passover/|title=Netanyahu announces fresh nationwide lockdown for end of Passover|date=13 April 2020|accessdate=15 April 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> ===Ramadan closures=== Throughout the month of [[Ramadan]], which began on April 25, stores in towns with majority Muslim populations are to be closed from 6 pm until 3 am. Indoor prayer for all religions is banned, while outdoor prayer is allowed for groups up to 19 people, distanced at least {{cvt|2|m}} apart.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/muslims-begin-marking-a-subdued-ramadan-under-virus-closures//|title=Muslims begin marking a subdued Ramadan under virus closures|date=24 April 2020|accessdate=25 April 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> === Communication === Many ultra-Orthodox people do not have Internet access or television, and therefore do not see government warnings of locations to avoid and social-distancing practices to follow.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Why some ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities defy social distancing|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/15/world/ultra-orthodox-jewish-communities-coronavirus-intl/index.html|last=Greene|first=Richard Allen|date=15 May 2020|website=CNN|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=15 May 2020}}</ref> ==Exit strategy== ===Retail=== On 24 April 2020, the government approved the reopening of street stores and barbershops, effective 26 April 2020. Malls, gyms, and restaurants without delivery services remained closed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Q5PRHXAJI|title=Israel approves reopening of all streets stores, barbershops|date=4 April 2020|agency=Ynet}}</ref> On 7 May 2020, malls and outdoor markets reopened, with restrictions on the number of people allowed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/BkjylNW9U|title=Malls and markets reopen after Israel lifts coronavirus restrictions|date=7 May 2020|agency=Ynet}}</ref> On 27 May 2020, restaurants reopened, with 1.6 meter distancing bewteen diners, and masked staff.<ref>{{cite news|agency=The Times of Israel|date=27 May 2020|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/cafes-restaurants-begin-to-reopen-with-coronavirus-restrictions-in-place/|title=Cafes, restaurants begin to reopen — with coronavirus restrictions in place}}</ref> ===Reopening schools=== On 3 May 2020, schools reopened for first to third grade, and eleventh to twelfth grade.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/schools-to-open-gates-on-sunday-morning-some-cities-refuse-626653|title=Schools open gates Sunday morning, some cities refuse|date=3 May 2020|agency=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> Classes were limited in size, and schoolchildren were required to wear masks. School was declared mandatory only for students studying for their matriculation exams. On 10 May 2020, preschools and kindergartens reopened, with limits on the number of children per class, and on a rotating half-week schedule. Nurseries were reopened with a full-week schedule, but allowing only 70% of the children to attend. Priority was given to children of single or working mothers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-israel-preschools/preschoolers-return-as-israel-further-eases-coronavirus-curbs-idUSKBN22M0EB|title=Preschoolers return as Israel further eases coronavirus curbs|date=10 May 2020|agency=Reuters}}</ref> On 17 to 19 May 2020, schools reopened fully, with certain social distancing rules in place, including staggered recesses and maintaining 2 meters distance between pupils during breaks. Children arriving at school are required to present a health statement signed by their parents.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-prepares-to-fully-reopen-education-system-this-week/|title=Israel prepares to fully reopen education system this week|date=16 May 2020|agency=The Times of Israel}}</ref> ===Easing of lockdown=== On 4 May 2020, Prime Minister Netanyahu outlined a gradual easing of lockdown restrictions, approved by the government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/government-to-allow-malls-libraries-gyms-water-sports-starting-friday-626828|date=5 May 2020|title=Rolling out exit plan, Netanyahu unveils easing of lockdown restrictions|agency=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> Immediate changes included allowing outdoor meetings of groups not exceeding 20, removal of the 100-meter limit on venturing from homes, and allowing meetings with family members, including elderly. Weddings with up to 50 attendees were also allowed. The easing of restrictions would halt should one of the following occur: * 100 new daily cases (excluding individuals arriving from abroad, outbreaks in retirement homes, and cases in other current outbreak hotspots) * the doubling time of infections decreases to 10 days * the number of patients in serious condition reaches 250 Additional easing of restrictions was announced on 5 May 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/malls-libraries-gyms-and-zoos-the-businesses-that-can-reopen-under-new-rules/|title=No more 100-meter limit; malls, libraries to reopen: All the eased regulations|date=5 May 2020|agency=The Times of Israel}}</ref> On 19 May 2020, the requirement to wear masks outdoors and in schools was lifted for the remainder of the week due to a severe heat wave.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/due-to-heat-wave-israel-temporarily-lifts-mask-requirement-in-schools-outdoors/|title=Due to heat wave, Israel temporarily lifts mask requirement in schools, outdoors|date=19 May 2020|agency=The Times of Israel}}</ref> On 20 May 2020, beaches and museums reopened, and restrictions on the number of passengers on buses were relaxed. Houses of prayer reopened to groups of up to 50 people. Attendees were required to wear masks and maintain a distance of two meters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/coronavirus-openings-beaches-restaurants-entertainment-halls-and-more-628552|title=Coronavirus openings: Beaches, synagogues, restaurants and more|agency=The Jerusalem Post|date=20 May 2020}}</ref> ==Relations with neighbouring countries and territories== ===Palestinian Authority=== {{see also|COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Palestine|Israel–Palestine relations}} On 11 March, Israel delivered 20&nbsp;tons of [[disinfectant]] to the [[West Bank]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Israel-delivers-disinfectant-to-West-Bank-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-620574|title=Israel delivers disinfectant to West Bank amid coronavirus outbreak|date=11 March 2020}}</ref> On 17 March, the [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Defense Ministry]] tightened restrictions on Palestinian workers, limiting entry to those working in essential sectors, and requiring that they remain in Israel instead of commuting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-tightens-restrictions-on-palestinian-workers-bans-commuting/|title=Israel tightens restrictions on Palestinian workers, bars them from commuting|date=17 March 2020}}</ref> Also, Israel and the [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Authority]] set up a joint operations room to coordinate their response to the virus.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-Palestinians-set-up-joint-operations-room-to-combat-coronavirus-621431|title=Israel, Palestinians set up joint operations room to combat coronavirus|agency=The Jerusalem Post|date=18 March 2020}}</ref> On 25 March, the Palestinian Authority urged all Palestinians working in Israel to return to the West Bank. All those returning were requested to self-isolate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/pa-urges-palestinian-workers-to-return-to-west-bank-as-israels-virus-cases-grow/|title=PA urges Palestinian workers to return to West Bank as Israel's virus cases grow|date=25 March 2020}}</ref> On 19 May, an unmarked [[Etihad Airways]] plane marked the first direct flight between the [[United Arab Emirates]] and Israel. It's goal was to deliver supplies to the West Bank.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-emirates-palestinians/abu-dhabis-etihad-makes-first-known-flight-to-israel-carrying-palestinian-aid-idUSKBN22V2R8|agency=Reuters|date=19 May 2020|title=Abu Dhabi's Etihad makes first known flight to Israel, carrying Palestinian aid}}{{Relevance-inline|date=May 2020}}</ref> The aid was rejected by the West Bank so it was delivered to Gaza instead.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Haaretz|date=21 May 2020|title=Palestinian Authority Refuses Coronavirus Aid From Direct UAE-Israel Flight, Citing Normalization|url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-palestinian-authority-refuses-coronavirus-aid-from-direct-uae-israel-flight-1.8864130}}</ref> ===Egypt=== {{see also|COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt|Egypt–Israel relations}} On 8 March, Israel closed down the [[Taba Border Crossing]] with Egypt, fearing the spread of the coronavirus from Egypt. The entry ban applied to any non-Israeli person attempting entry from Egypt. Israeli nationals returning from Egypt were required to enter an immediate 14-day quarantine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy-defense/1583680035-israel-closes-border-crossing-into-egypt-over-coronavirus-fears|title=Israel bans visitors from Egypt over coronavirus fears|last=|first=|date=|website=www.i24news.tv|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> ===Jordan=== {{see also|COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan|Israel–Jordan relations}} While Israel had not placed restrictions on its Jordanian border crossings, the Jordanian Kingdom decided to close its border with Israel as well as all other neighbouring countries beginning from March 11.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hamodia.com/2020/03/11/jordan-bars-entry-israel-iraq-egypt-due-coronavirus/|title=Jordan Bars Entry from Israel, Iraq, Egypt Due to Coronavirus {{!}} Hamodia.com|date=2020-03-11|website=Hamodia|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> On April 15, the ''Jerusalem Post'' reported that Israel was to provide 5,000 medical protection masks to Jordan to fight coronavirus outbreak, with the IDF overseeing the delivery.<ref>[https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-to-deliver-5000-medical-masks-to-jordan-to-fight-coronavirus-624733]</ref> ==Statistics== {{COVID-19 pandemic data/Israel medical cases}} {{clear}} ==Graphs== According to [[Ministry of Health (Israel)|Israel Ministry of Health]].<ref name=info/> <center>'''New cases per day'''</center> {{Graph:Chart |width=850 |colors=#F46D43 |showValues=offset:2 |xAxisTitle=Date |xAxisAngle=-60 |type=rect | x=21 Feb, 22 Feb, 23 Feb, 24 Feb, 25 Feb, 26 Feb, 27 Feb, 28 Feb, 29 Feb, 1 Mar, 2 Mar, 3 Mar, 4 Mar, 5 Mar, 6 Mar, 7 Mar, 8 Mar, 9 Mar, 10 Mar, 11 Mar, 12 Mar, 13 Mar, 14 Mar, 15 Mar, 16 Mar, 17 Mar, 18 Mar, 19 Mar, 20 Mar, 21 Mar, 22 Mar, 23 Mar, 24 Mar, 25 Mar, 26 Mar, 27 Mar, 28 Mar, 29 Mar, 30 Mar, 31 Mar, 1 Apr, 2 Apr, 3 Apr, 4 Apr, 5 Apr, 6 Apr, 7 Apr, 8 Apr, 9 Apr, 10 Apr, 11 Apr, 12 Apr, 13 Apr, 14 Apr, 15 Apr, 16 Apr, 17 Apr, 18 Apr, 19 Apr, 20 Apr, 21 Apr, 22 Apr, 23 Apr, 24 Apr, 25 Apr, 26 Apr, 27 Apr, 28 Apr, 29 Apr, 30 Apr, 1 May, 2 May, 3 May, 4 May, 5 May, 6 May, 7 May, 8 May, 9 May, 10 May, 11 May, 12 May, 13 May, 14 May, 15 May, 16 May, 17 May, 18 May, 19 May, 20 May, 21 May, 22 May, 23 May, 24 May, 25 May, 26 May, 27 May, 28 May, 29 May, 30 May, 31 May |yAxisTitle=New cases per day | y=2, 0, 0, 0, 16, 0, 1, 3, 0, 1, 5, 3, 0, 2, 4, 4, 9, 4, 33, 20, 20, 35, 29, 38, 72, 93, 118, 136, 169, 206, 249, 348, 422, 423, 528, 434, 480, 532, 546, 729, 695, 719, 599, 429, 579, 452, 379, 338, 345, 362, 346, 558, 444, 407, 313, 302, 302, 311, 290, 303, 293, 230, 283, 233, 160, 88, 110, 173, 106, 112, 155, 84, 23, 38, 43, 21, 55, 18, 23, 33, 29, 23, 19, 31, 10, 18, 10, 26, 16, 6, 18, 15, 14, 5, 17, 23, 36, 79, 115, 25 | yGrid= |xGrid= }} Data is updated by MOH at 09:00 and 21:00 (time zone is missing) every day. <center>'''Deaths per day'''</center> {{Graph:Chart |width=850 |colors=#CC0000 |showValues=offset:2 |xAxisTitle=Date |xAxisAngle=-60 |type=rect | x=21 Feb, 22 Feb, 23 Feb, 24 Feb, 25 Feb, 26 Feb, 27 Feb, 28 Feb, 29 Feb, 1 Mar, 2 Mar, 3 Mar, 4 Mar, 5 Mar, 6 Mar, 7 Mar, 8 Mar, 9 Mar, 10 Mar, 11 Mar, 12 Mar, 13 Mar, 14 Mar, 15 Mar, 16 Mar, 17 Mar, 18 Mar, 19 Mar, 20 Mar, 21 Mar, 22 Mar, 23 Mar, 24 Mar, 25 Mar, 26 Mar, 27 Mar, 28 Mar, 29 Mar, 30 Mar, 31 Mar, 1 Apr, 2 Apr, 3 Apr, 4 Apr, 5 Apr, 6 Apr, 7 Apr, 8 Apr, 9 Apr, 10 Apr, 11 Apr, 12 Apr, 13 Apr, 14 Apr, 15 Apr, 16 Apr, 17 Apr, 18 Apr, 19 Apr, 20 Apr, 21 Apr, 22 Apr, 23 Apr, 24 Apr, 25 Apr, 26 Apr, 27 Apr, 28 Apr, 29 Apr, 30 Apr, 1 May, 2 May, 3 May, 4 May, 5 May, 6 May, 7 May, 8 May, 9 May, 10 May, 11 May, 12 May, 13 May, 14 May, 15 May, 16 May, 17 May, 18 May, 19 May, 20 May, 21 May, 22 May, 23 May, 24 May, 25 May, 26 May, 27 May, 28 May, 29 May, 30 May | yAxisTitle=Deaths per day | y=0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 2, 2, 3, 4, 0, 0, 3, 5, 1, 8, 7, 6, 4, 5, 8, 12, 8, 13, 4, 7, 7, 7, 9, 14, 8, 10, 13, 2, 8, 6, 4, 2, 5, 1, 5, 6, 5, 7, 3, 4, 3, 3, 3, 1, 1, 5, 2, 5, 6, 2, 4, 1, 1, 2, 4, 4, 2, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 3, 0, 0 | yGrid= |xGrid= }} Data is according to MOH update at 08:00 (time zone is missing) every day. <center>'''Tests per day'''</center> {{Graph:Chart |width=850 |colors=orange |showValues=offset:2 |xAxisTitle=Date |xAxisAngle=-60 |type=rect |x=25 Feb, 26 Feb, 27 Feb, 28 Feb, 29 Feb, 1 Mar, 2 Mar, 3 Mar, 4 Mar, 5 Mar, 6 Mar, 7 Mar, 8 Mar, 9 Mar, 10 Mar, 11 Mar, 12 Mar, 13 Mar, 14 Mar, 15 Mar, 16 Mar, 17 Mar, 18 Mar, 19 Mar, 20 Mar, 21 Mar, 22 Mar, 23 Mar, 24 Mar, 25 Mar, 26 Mar, 27 Mar, 28 Mar, 29 Mar, 30 Mar, 31 Mar, 1 Apr, 2 Apr, 3 Apr, 4 Apr, 5 Apr, 6 Apr, 7 Apr, 8 Apr, 9 Apr, 10 Apr, 11 Apr, 12 Apr, 13 Apr, 14 Apr, 15 Apr, 16 Apr, 17 Apr, 18 Apr, 19 Apr, 20 Apr, 21 Apr, 22 Apr, 23 Apr, 24 Apr, 25 Apr, 26 Apr, 27 Apr, 28 Apr, 29 Apr, 30 Apr, 1 May, 2 May, 3 May, 4 May, 5 May, 6 May, 7 May, 8 May, 9 May, 10 May, 11 May, 12 May, 13 May, 14 May, 15 May, 16 May, 17 May, 18 May | yAxisTitle=Daily tests | y=104, 123, 134, 115, 158, 160, 173, 223, 126, 173, 300, 372, 473, 548, 482, 267, 660, 677, 573, 1036, 1148, 1929, 2558, 2350, 2473, 1860, 3095, 3743, 5067, 5624, 5768, 5513, 5040, 6489, 6636, 7851, 8213, 9082, 9903, 6647, 9279, 7250, 6592, 5570, 5521, 5980, 6085, 7680, 10401, 11501, 9269, 11908, 10038, 10012, 9419, 13342, 11422, 11902, 12802, 11799, 9031, 8393, 10881, 10476, 9004, 9924, 11045, 5569, 8028, 9260, 8953, 9456, 10116, 8169, 3884, 4943, 9206, 7527, 8146, 8302, 5679, 1521, 4347, 4659 | yGrid= |xGrid= }} <center>'''Fatality Rate (Percents)'''</center> {{Graph:Chart | type=line | linewidth=1 | width=850 | height=200 | showValues=1 | xAxisTitle=Date | xAxisAngle=-60 | yAxisMin=0.5 |x=21 Feb, 22 Feb, 23 Feb, 24 Feb, 25 Feb, 26 Feb, 27 Feb, 28 Feb, 29 Feb, 1 Mar, 2 Mar, 3 Mar, 4 Mar, 5 Mar, 6 Mar, 7 Mar, 8 Mar, 9 Mar, 10 Mar, 11 Mar, 12 Mar, 13 Mar, 14 Mar, 15 Mar, 16 Mar, 17 Mar, 18 Mar, 19 Mar, 20 Mar, 21 Mar, 22 Mar, 23 Mar, 24 Mar, 25 Mar, 26 Mar, 27 Mar, 28 Mar, 29 Mar, 30 Mar, 31 Mar, 1 Apr, 2 Apr, 3 Apr, 4 Apr, 5 Apr, 6 Apr, 7 Apr, 8 Apr, 9 Apr, 10 Apr, 11 Apr, 12 Apr, 13 Apr, 14 Apr, 15 Apr, 16 Apr, 17 Apr, 18 Apr, 19 Apr, 20 Apr, 21 Apr, 22 Apr, 23 Apr, 24 Apr, 25 Apr, 26 Apr, 27 Apr, 28 Apr, 29 Apr, 30 Apr, 1 May, 2 May, 3 May, 4 May, 5 May, 6 May, 7 May, 8 May, 9 May, 10 May, 11 May, 12 May, 13 May, 14 May, 15 May, 16 May, 17 May, 18 May | yAxisTitle=Fatality Rate | y=0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.12, 0.1, 0.08, 0.06, 0.15, 0.2, 0.27, 0.35, 0.31, 0.27, 0.3, 0.35, 0.33, 0.41, 0.47, 0.51, 0.53, 0.56, 0.62, 0.72, 0.77, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.92, 0.95, 0.99, 1.08, 1.11, 1.16, 1.23, 1.22, 1.25, 1.27, 1.27, 1.27, 1.29, 1.29, 1.31, 1.33, 1.35, 1.39, 1.39, 1.41, 1.43, 1.44, 1.46, 1.46, 1.46, 1.49, 1.5, 1.52, 1.56, 1.57, 1.59, 1.59, 1.6, 1.61, 1.63, 1.65 | yGrid= |xGrid= }} == See also == * [[COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory]] * [[2020 in Israel]] * [[Health in Israel]] {{Portal bar|COVID-19|Israel|Medicine|Viruses}} ==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}} == External links == {{Commons category}} ;Government * [https://www.gov.il/en/departments/topics/corona-gov Coronavirus]. Israel's government website * [https://govextra.gov.il/ministry-of-health/corona/corona-virus-en/ The Novel Coronavirus]. [[Ministry of Health (Israel)|Israel Ministry of Health]] * [https://www.health.gov.il/English/Topics/Diseases/corona/Pages/default.aspx COVID-19]. [[Ministry of Health (Israel)|Israel Ministry of Health]] * {{Telegram |s/MOHreport |Ministry of Health coronavirus updates}} {{in lang|he}} ;Other * [https://www.science.co.il/medical/coronavirus/Statistics.php Graph of total confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and the number of deaths (updated daily).] * [https://www.science.co.il/medical/coronavirus/Statistics-log.php Total cases of COVID-19 graphed on a logarithmic scale.] * [https://www.science.co.il/medical/coronavirus/Cases_largest_cities.php Time course of COVID-19 spread in the largest cities of Israel] * [https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/israel/ Coronavirus in Israel statistics]. [[Worldometer]] * [https://www.jpost.com/coronavirus Coronavirus news]. ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'' {{COVID-19 pandemic}} [[Category:COVID-19 pandemic in Israel| ]] [[Category:COVID-19 pandemic by country|Israel]] [[Category:COVID-19 pandemic in Asia|Israel]] [[Category:2020 in Israel|Coronavirus pandemic]] [[Category:Medical outbreaks in Israel]]'