Lockdown

Israel enters 3rd lockdown tonight

Economy, education to face severe restrictions as Israel enters lockdown in bid to reduce coronavirus morbidity.

Bank of Israel:

Third lockdown will cost Israel 5 billion shekels

Bank of Israel estimates that upcoming nationwide lockdown will cost Israel roughly 2.5 billion shekels per week.

Israelis souring on lockdowns, poll shows, as 3rd lockdown nears

Opposition to coronavirus lockdowns mounting, with Israelis now roughly evenly divided on the issue, new poll shows.

Health Ministry: Lockdown may be longer than 2 weeks

Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Hezy Levy says ministry may seek to extend length of lockdown due to rising number of patients.

Lifeline for parents: Studies as usual during lockdown

Kindergartens and daycare centers, grades 1-4 and grades 11 and 12 will operate as usual. Grades 5-10 will end at 1 pm.

Lockdown eased for Christians; prayer up to 100 people together

Coronavirus Cabinet approves special reliefs for Christian houses of worship. Synagogues on Yom Kippur had much stricter restrictions.

'Reckless and harmful'

Emergency council of senior physicians appeals lockdown to MKs

Public Emergency Council for the Coronavirus Crisis: 'We state unequivocally that the closure is more harmful than beneficial.'

Coronavirus Commissar calls lockdown 'too short'

Prof. Nachman Ash estimates that for lockdown to yield hoped-for results, inevitable to extend it beyond two weeks decided on last night.

Ministers approve: Two-week lockdown starting Sunday

Cabinet ministers approve two-week lockdown that will include restrictions on movement in an attempt to bring down number of COVID-19 cases.

Coronavirus Czar:

'We need a new lockdown immediately, I hope it will be the last'

Prof. Nachman Ash warns of 'alarming spike' in infection rates, says government must quickly impose 3rd lockdown.

Government to deliberate today on plan for total lockdown

Health Ministry pushing for full lockdown including closure of school system and non-essential businesses.

UK mutation:

British NGO directs query to Health Minister as lockdown looms

As early as May, scientists had identified at least 12,706 mutations of COVID-19. Time For Recovery UK asks questions about new strain.

Council of senior physicians: Third lockdown 'national disaster'

'What characterizes situation today is confused public, misinformation, a lot of intimidation, and of course, apocalyptic predictions.'

Tribes apart: The elites and the rest of us

Marx is passe. Today labour is not against capital. Non-elites are in a struggle with elites, divided by elite contempt for liberty. Op-ed.

3rd Lockdown?

After reports of COVID mutation, Netanyahu plans new lockdown

'This new mutation is a Second Coronavirus, we need a full lockdown,' says PM, calling to convene gov't meeting to rule on national closure.

Londoners fleeing locked-down capital risk arrest

Trains fully booked ahead of midnight deadline as government says lockdown could last for months.

Doctors oppose restrictions:

100 doctors vs gov policy: 'Insanity, no medical justification'

More than 100 doctors attack government COVID-19 policy.

It's back to lockdown... 2,862 new COVID diagnoses

All retail to shut, schools to remain open in green & yellow areas.

Health Minister: 'We're going to shut stores again'

"Effects of vaccination program won't be felt till March. We're just a week away from harsher restrictions."

Germany announces partial lockdown

Germany's non-essential shops and schools to close amid a rise in coronavirus cases.

COVID-19 policy: Response to op-ed article on Arutz Sheva

The lesson supposed to be learned from being 'stuck in a concept' in the Yom Kippur War, it seems we haven't learned at all. Opinion

Cabinet to approve:

Hanukkah restrictions apply only to Jewish localities

Health Ministry recommends every evening on Hanukkah starting at 5:30 PM, gatherings of two persons not from one nuclear family forbidden.

1,719 Covid-19 diagnoses in past 24 hours

310 people in serious condition out of 14,905 active cases.

Night lockdown will not be imposed on Hanukkah after all

Due to 'legal difficulties' in imposing nightly lockdown, cabinet meeting postponed; traffic restrictions remain unclear.

Experts slam plan for nightly curfews: 'This is a new low'

Health officials rip government over plan to impose nightly curfews. 'The expert consensus is that this decision doesn't make sense.'

Government to vote today on night curfews during Hanukkah

Coronavirus Cabinet calls to impose nightly curfews during Hanukkah as the first of a series of new measures to curb third wave of the virus

Hanukkah night lockdown starting Wednesday

Government seeks to prevent greater coronavirus outbreak over 8-day Hanukkah holiday by closing businesses at night.

Common Sense Model physician blasts Health Ministry announcement

Dr. Shmuel Rochberger: 'Hundreds of doctors have warned since beginning of outbreak that lockdowns are useless and only increase mortality.'

Another CA sheriff refuses to enforce governor's lockdown orders

Riverside County sheriff says Gov. Gavin Newsom's lockdown orders are 'hypocritical' and 'ridiculous.'

Bennett: Here's how a third lockdown can be averted

Former Defense Minister Naftali Bennett: These are the actions that Israeli government must urgently take to avoid need for third lockdown.

Health Ministry warns: Third lockdown after Hanukkah

Ministry officials say there will be no Hanukkah lockdown, but recommend to be with nuclear family only. Another lockdown is then expected.

Europe is a mega-Disneyland trembling before COVID-19

All we see in Europe is talking heads advocating lockdown - the same ones who said masks are useless, there is no need for tests. Opionion..

As death toll rises, Sweden's confidence in government drops

Various regulations already in place, but PM insists his government "does not believe in total lockdown."

Dr. Shmuel Rochberger:

'You deprived millions of people in Israel of their self-worth'

Internal medicine and gastroenterology specialist blasts government: 'You refuse to meet. You refuse to listen.'

Expanded pilot plan for malls' reopening authorized

More people allowed into malls, but only 15 given permission to reopen so far.

New study reveals soaring levels of anxiety linked to lockdown

Around 1 in 10 Israelis reported severe anxiety in pre-epidemic period, as compared to almost 1 in 3 now.

Coronavirus Czar: We're still in an emergency situation

"Number of cases is rising, but people think the epidemic is over," says Prof. Ash.

3rd lockdown on the way? COVID-19 infections hit 1.5-month high

Health Ministry preparing for third lockdown, as number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus hits highest level since October.

California governor: State at 'tipping point' in COVID pandemic

With over 95% of ICU beds filled according to official statistics, new restrictions being considered.

New study: Lockdown has no significant impact on COVID mortality

Study based on data from 160 countries, recommends "increasing population resilience with better physical fitness."

Germany extends partial lockdown

Partial shutdown will be extended until at least December 20 in an effort to reduce rate of COVID-19 infections.

Rod Blagojevich calls out Democrats over lockdowns

Former Illinois Gov Rod Blagojevich comments on increased safety measures imposed in Democrat states due to interpretation of COVID numbers

'Lockdown: The Right Side Of History'

An essay by Stacey Rudin is recited in this episode of the Very Opinionated Show. Opinion

All haredi schools to reopen, as all are in 'green' zones

Despite dire warnings from government officials that haredi areas would soon all turn "red," the opposite occurred.

Gaza approaching full lockdown due to coronavirus

Authorities in Gaza considering enforcing a full lockdown amid continuing rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.

COVID 'overreaction' in South Australia 'is rubbish'

Sky News host Paul Murray: 'Alas, they are playing you for fools.'

New coronavirus czar sets conditions for lockdown

Prof. Nachman Ash supports a lockdown as soon as the daily number of cases reaches 2,000 and its removal when it is at 500.

'If politicians come to market, they'll be pelted with tomatoes'

Carmel market trader relates virtual impossibility of making a living stifled by government regulations.

Lockdown restrictions unlikely to be eased again in near future

Senior government sources fear that the slight rise in infection rates could spiral out of control if further restrictions are removed.

Study:

'Even military-enforced extreme lockdown can’t stop COVID-19'

New England Journal of Medicine: Extreme quarantine plus frequent testing, isolation among military recruits did nothing to stop COVID-19.

Coronavirus Cabinet meets to discuss nationwide nighttime curfew

Police are opposed to the plan, pointing out that it will be impossible to enforce.

Watch:

Italy: Police remove helmets in solidarity with protesters

Robin Monotti Graziadei: 'When the police and army take the protesters' side, it's Game Over for lockdown.'

US Supreme Court Justice: Religious liberties are under attack

Justice Alito describes how curbs on individual liberty imposed during 2020 were "previously unimaginable."

Italy's hospitals on verge of collapse

Doctors' federation calling on government to impose nationwide lockdown as cases mount.

Night curfew? 'Stop pulling rabbits out of hats'

Public Health Physicians Assoc Chair seeks public involvement in COVID struggle: 'Prevent gatherings by joint action within neighborhood.'

'Government needs to say when normal life will return’

NSW Labor MP Chris Minns says the government needs to treat Australians like adults and be clear about when life will go back to normal.

NIS 2,000 grant to those unemployed for over 100 days this year

Finance Minister Yisrael Katz takes credit for proposal designed to help low wage earners.

IKEA to delay reopening of Israeli stores

Due to Health Ministry opposition, company will delay planned reopening by a day, until Thursday.

Israeli physicians, scientists send The Guardian protest letter

Dr. Uri Gavish tells Arutz Sheva UK paper attempts 'smear-by-association, using deceptive title' to report doctor criticizing lockdown.

Netanyahu gets haircut: 'Let's go strengthen small business.'

PM photographed getting haircut in Givatayim: 'Don't leave any edges.'