ISRAEL IMPOSES CURFEWS AS COVID DEATHS SURPASS 1,000

Instead of localized lockdowns, Israel will impose curfews in 40 "red" locations where the novel coronavirus is spreading fast, after the number of daily infections in the country reached an all-time record last week, Ofira Koopmans reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) on September 7, 2020.

As of Monday, residents of "red" areas will not be able to leave their homes from 19:00 p.m. (1600 GMT) until 05:00 a.m., a government statement said on Sunday. Gatherings of more than 10 people in closed spaces, and of more than 20 people in open spaces, will be prohibited, and schools will be closed. "I know that these restrictions are not easy, but in the existing situation, we have no choice," Prime Minister Benjamin Netyahu said.

Most "red" locations are Arab and ultra-Orthodox towns or neighborhoods. The u-turn from localized closures announced by Netanyahu on Thursday came after massive pressure from furious mayors.

Ultra-Orthodox mayors, in a letter to Netanyahu, said they felt "humiliated" by him and vowed, "We will not cooperate" with lockdowns in singled-out communities. Israel's government-appointed coronavirus czar, Ronni Gamzu, said on Sunday he had come under "artillery fire" over his "traffic light" plan, which distinguishes between "green", "yellow" and "red" cities - with likely closures in the worst-hit "red zones."