The Palestinian Authority extended the closure of the occupied West Bank to fight coronavirus on Sunday after an increase in the number of cases, adding the establishment of a curfew.
Increase in the number of patients
The Palestinian government had decided to close the West Bank from July 3, before renewing this decision a few days later, after having noted an increase in the number of sick. Travel between governorates will be banned for another two weeks, Palestinian government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem said at a press conference.
A curfew will also be in effect every day from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., except Thursday evening to Sunday morning, which corresponds to the weekend in the West Bank, where it will take effect all day. However, for the main cities of the West Bank: Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus and Bethlehem, it will be total from Sunday evening to Thursday evening, he added.
Open pharmacies and bakeries
Only pharmacies and bakeries are allowed to stay open for two weeks. "It is strictly forbidden to organize weddings, funerals and parties," said Ibrahim Melhem, adding that it was also "strictly prohibited" for Palestinians to go to work in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The Ministry of Health has officially identified more than 6,150 people infected with the new coronavirus, 33 of whom have died, according to a report released on Sunday.
Palestinian Authority decisions apply only to areas under Palestinian control in the West Bank, a territory occupied since 1967 by Israel which controls all points of entry. On the Israeli side, the authorities have officially listed more than 38,600 cases of coronavirus, of which more than 360 have died.
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