Israeli Government Weighs New Virus Lockdown
World
Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel reached a new daily record of confirmed coronavirus cases, the country's Health Ministry said Thursday, as a new nationwide lockdown to curb the pandemic appeared imminent. The Ministry reported 1,898 new cases of the virus. The country has registered more than 44,500 total cases. At least 380 Israelis have died of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. The growing coronavirus outbreak, coupled with a struggling economy, have marked a dramatic turnaround for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli leader received widespread praise for moving quickly to contain the coronavirus last spring. But since lifting a series of restrictions in May, the country has experienced a surge in cases. With unemployment over 20%, the pandemic's economic impact is generating domestic unrest and Netanyahu’s approval rating is plummeting. Netanyahu announced a plan Wednesday to give out hundreds of dollars in economic aid to every Israeli citizen to help the flagging economy as health officials warned the country could be headed toward a second general lockdown. Whereas the initial virus outbreak was concentrated predominantly in the country’s ultra-Orthodox and Arab communities, whose populations often live in poorer, crowded conditions, the Health Ministry has warned that the disease is spreading more widely. Netanyahu was to convene a meeting Thursday to discuss measures. Hezi Levi, the Health Ministry director general, told Army Radio that he would be pushing for more stringent movement restrictions, including a possible nationwide lockdown on weekends. The prime minister’s economic stimulus proposal, which still requires government approval, would give single individuals one-time payments of just over $200, and families between $600 and $900 depending on how many children they have. "This money will put the economy back on track faster," he said, calling for people to purchase "local products." Netanyahu announced the grant a day after large protests outside his official residence calling for his resignation, and less than a week after thousands of self-employed Israelis staged a massive demonstration in central Tel Aviv. Tuesday night's protest outside Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem spilled over into violence and scores of protesters clashed with police. Public approval of Netanyahu's handling of the crisis has plummeted. A recent Midgam Research & Consulting poll published by Channel 12 last week found just 46% of respondents approved of Netanyahu’s job performance, down from 74% in May.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2393521/israeli-government-weighs-new-virus-lockdown
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