In anticipation of the second closure that will take effect tomorrow at noon, we examined what has changed since the first closure imposed following the outbreak of the Corona virus in Israel.
A guide for the confused citizen
Individual sports with a limit of up to 500 meters in front of a supportive activity with no distance limit;
Free demonstrations as opposed to limiting the number of people in each protest subject to Knesset approval;
And continuing studies in special education compared to the general shutdown on Passover.
In anticipation of the second closure that will take effect tomorrow at noon, we examined what has changed since the first closure imposed following the outbreak of the corona virus in Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu on the need to tighten restrictions
The general closure imposed in preparation for Passover was gradually implemented during the month of March.
In the first phase, events were banned for over a hundred people and in the second phase, gatherings of more than ten people were restricted and the education system was shut down.
In the third stage, a meeting between two people who are not from the same family is already prohibited.
In addition, various traffic restrictions were imposed at that time and it was forbidden to travel more than a hundred meters from the house, except for going out to stock up on food and medicine.
As mentioned, sports activities were also limited to 500 meters from the place of residence and traffic between the cities was banned.
Economically, the restrictions in the spring were a severe blow to businesses in Israel.
All businesses were closed except for essential jobs in the private sector.
In these places only 15% of the workforce or up to ten workers could be employed (the lowest number among them).
This restriction was also valid for the public sector.
As will be recalled, Ben Gurion Airport was closed to outbound or inbound flights except for the return of Israelis, while public transportation was almost completely reduced, except for transportation for special needs.
As mentioned, precisely in one area the first slight closure.
Regarding demonstrations and protests, no threshold was set for the number of participants.
Sukkot closure 2020
The closure that was imposed about a week ago and will be tightened starting tomorrow, is quite different from the closure on Passover.
For example, despite the closure of many jobs, vital businesses are expected to operate in accordance with regulations that will be approved later.
These are probably banks and credit companies, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, the energy industry, the water company, aid organizations for Holocaust survivors, ports and shipping, taxis and public transportation that will be run in a broader format than the previous closure, car rental companies, local authority services, Leumi, in the mail, in the Internet and television companies, in the centers of the Ministry of Labor, in the welfare services, in the religious and burial services, in hospitals as well as in construction and infrastructure works.
In addition, work will continue in major factories, pharmacies and food stores.
As we mentioned, the restriction of the distance from the house was this time imposed on a thousand meters and supportive activity is possible without limiting the distance in singles and couples.
The prayers in the previous closure were held on the balconies and in the courtyards of the houses, will now be allowed only in the open space, since the synagogues will remain closed, except for Yom Kippur.
Ahead of the fast, the government is expected to approve a limited format for prayers in synagogues.
Similar to the current restriction on demonstrations, prayers will be allowed in groups of up to 20 people and within a radius of a thousand meters from the house.
Meanwhile, the government has not yet decided on the continuation of flights from Ben Gurion Airport. On the other hand, it has already been decided to close all sports except international games.