JERUSALEM, Jan 20 (NNN-XINHUA) – Israel’s cabinet decided to extend by 10 days, a weeks-long nationwide lockdown, to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ministers voted in favour of extending the tight lockdown until Jan 31, according to a cabinet statement.
The cabinet also decided that, travellers entering the country will be required to present a negative coronavirus test taken within 72 hours before their flight.
“We are in a close race between the vaccines operation and the surging morbidity in the world, due to the mutations,” Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said.
Israel saw spiking numbers of new cases, despite a fast vaccination rollout, which started on Dec 19.
The country entered its third lockdown on Dec 27. Originally, the lockdown was planned to be lifted after two weeks but, instead, the government decided to tighten it and later also extended it.– NNN-XINHUA
