On Friday, Israel imposed new public isolation measures over the weekend to contain the pandemic of the Coronavirus, which the World Health Organization (WHO) renamed the virus as COVID-19 last March and reduce the infection rate amid growing public anger over the government's handling of the crisis.
The Israeli government said in a statement, released hours ago, that residents would be able to leave their homes on the weekend, but shopping centers, shops, swimming pools, zoos and museums will be all closed from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning.
Israel Radio reported that a full closure could be imposed again on weekends by July 24, after the government obtained parliamentary approval.
Weekends in Israel start on Friday afternoon and continue into Sunday, which is a normal business day there.
The government said that on all days, gatherings would be limited to ten people in closed places, twenty people would be allowed to gather in open spaces, and restaurants would be allowed to submit external requests only.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz will make another decision determining whether summer schools and nurseries remain open.
Israel reopened schools and many businesses in May and lifted restrictions that made the infection curve stable after a partial closure imposed in March.
But with the infection rate rising strongly in recent weeks, many public health experts said the government was in a hurry and ignored taking steps to control the pandemic once the economy was reopened.
A poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute on Tuesday showed that only 29.5% of the public trust Netanyahu's management of the crisis.
Thousands took to the streets, demanding economic benefits.
The unemployment rate rose sharply after the imposition of public isolation measures in March, and it currently stands at 21%. Netanyahu has announced several aid programs, some of which have been slow and others that have sparked criticism as ineffective.
Israel, with a population of nine million, has recorded more than 44,000 infections, and 377 deaths up to now.
On the other hand, Netanyahu had adopted a proposal to open the local markets partially in Israel within monitoring of the government agencies.
PM's office released a statement said that this decision will be presented to the government for approval on Saturday evening.
The statement pointed out that Ministry of Finance will develop a pilot scheme for some commercial sectors that can conduct their business activities in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health in Israel.
A purple badge defines the criteria for opening commercial interests according to the sectors that will be named later.
The statement indicated that it will be possible to go out of the house to do sports activity that includes no more than two people and up to 500 meters from the house. Children with special needs will be allowed to study provided that each one is singly.
Detailed regulations will be phrased to operate commercial interests and procedures for the public's behavior in the public space and in commercial interests.
Decision made by the Israeli PM came after Jews celebrated the Easter of this year.
Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadea, Commander of the Internal Front in the Israeli Defense Forces ( IDF) assured that the crisis of the Coronavirus will prolong to the months to come.
Yadea warned that the threats of the deadly virus may hold in Israel for at least one year and it could become a crisis.
He urged the Israelis not to fancy that the threats of the Coronavirus will clear out in the short range, adding that the normal life won't resume after the Easter.
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