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Netanyahu: Israel in Covid-19 second-wave emergency

Renewed restrictions come into force today as Israel grapples with the outbreak

July 6, 2020 08:06
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said vaccines were “on the way” and that he was working “around the clock”.
1 min read

Israel has introduced new rules on social distancing as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the country was experiencing a “very strong” second wave of Covid-19.

Mr Netanyahu, speaking at the government’s weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, said Israelis ought to expect an “increase and a doubling of the number of severe cases" of Covid-19 and said that Israel was "a step away from full lockdown". 

“The World Health Organization has marked the Middle East as a focus of the global spread. This is not passing over Israel. It is here,” said Mr Netanyahu, as he called on the Knesset and decision-making bodies to take decisions with urgency.  

“We are in an emergency situation,” he said, adding that: “If we do not block the spread of coronavirus, we will have neither health nor and economy; many citizens in the state of Israel will lose their lives.”