The West Bank has entered a 48-hour complete lockdown to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic as cases continue to rise, in a measure that is the first in several months.
Security forces were deployed to ensure the implementation of the lockdown starting Friday.
Interior ministry spokesman Ghassan Nimr said that a comprehensive lockdown was part of the government's plan to confront the virus, after recording the highest infection rates among citizens this week.
Nimr explained that only bakeries and pharmacies will be allowed to be open, and movement in the streets will be prevented unless "absolutely necessary.”
Palestinian security services will conduct patrols in the streets and place barriers at the entrances to some cities, said Nimr, adding that the violators will be punished.
Palestine recorded 18 fatalities on Friday, the highest single-day rise since the pandemic outbreak in March, bringing death toll to 767, while total COVID-19 cases currently exceed 93,000.
Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila announced 1,936 new COVID-19 infections among Palestinians during the past twenty-four hours.
The minister said that the Strip recorded the highest number with 922 cases, adding that 57 of the cases are in intensive care units, including eight on ventilators.
