Israelis ordered to stay home

The Israeli Health Ministry announced new guidelines on Tuesday to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including a call for all to stay at home unless it is “absolutely necessary” to go out to obstain food or other staples.

The new regulations ban the public from going to parks, playgrounds, the beach, pools, libraries, museums and other public spaces unless taking a walk with family or a pet, according to a Ynet report.

All classes are banned. Sporting activities are allowed if people stay at least two meters from each other. The new regulations state that friends and family should not visit your home.

In addition, according to the report, those who are high-risk, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions, should avoid leaving home as much as possible.

Workplaces should reduce staff to a minimum, and most people should telecommute from home.

All non-essential medical treatments or dentist appointments should be postponed.

Ynet also reported that public transportation would be stopped on evenings and weekends, and transportation companies were ordered to restrict the number of passengers to maintain a two-meter distance between them.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry started to build a drive-through coronavirus testing lab in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. Anyone who wants can be tested; the results would be sent by available after 36 hours. —JNS