Israel to enter full-blown lockdown

RT.com, 13 Sept, 2020 - Israel is poised to declare the whole country a “red zone” due to a spike in Covid-19 cases, limiting people’s movements to a 500-meter radius from home and closing all non-essential businesses that serve customers in person.  

The sweeping lockdown is set to take effect on September 18 at 6am local time, multiple Israeli media reported on Saturday. The Israeli cabinet is expected to approve the new stringent restrictions on the movement of people as well as on commerce as early as on Sunday morning, Haaretz reported.  

Although concerns about an imminent “second wave” of the coronavirus, particularly regarding its possible overlap with the common seasonal flu, have been mounting and several European countries have already reported a surge in cases, Israel becomes the first nation to plunge back into a nationwide lockdown after the previous one was phased out back in May.