Ministers said to agree on nationwide lockdown over weekends to contain virus

Ministers who took part in a meeting convened today by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed on a series of further restrictions to contain the continued rise in coronavirus infections, according to Channel 12 news.

The network says the measures include a nationwide lockdown on weekends which will run from Friday to Sunday mornings; limiting outdoor gatherings to 20 people and indoor ones to 10; only allowing restaurants to offer delivery; and closing gyms and pools, among other measures.

Netanyahu says he’ll convene the government later this evening to approve new restrictions, which he says are aimed at preventing a general lockdown.

“This is the goal… to take interim steps to prevent a general lockdown in light of the gigantic jump in morbidity to around 1,800 cases and the doubling of the number of severe cases every seven days. This is the goal,” a statement from his office quotes him saying during the meeting.