PA extends West Bank lockdown as cases rise

Occupied West Bank (QNN)- The Palestinian Authority on Sunday announced a new series of measures to curb the sharp rise of the coronavirus cases in the West Bank.

The spokesperson for the Palestinian government, Ibrahim Melhem, announced in a press conference the formation of an operation room of the PM Muhammad Ishtayyeh, the Minister of Health, and the heads of the national security service and the police.

New restrictions were also announced during the press conference, including a weekend curfew.

“Travel will be prohibited daily from 8:00 pm (1700 GMT) to 6:00 am in all governorates,” as well as from Thursday evening to Sunday morning, Palestinian government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem told the press conference.

In the addition to the general dawn-to-dusk curfew, major cities Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus and Bethlehem, will be under total lockdown until Thursday evening, he said, while travel between districts will be banned for two weeks.

Only pharmacies and bakeries will be allowed to open.

“It is strictly forbidden to organise weddings, funerals and parties,” said Melhem, adding that Palestinians were also barred from going to work in Israeli illegal settlements.

The total number of cases in the West Bank and Jerusalem has been estimated at 5793. Two citizens died this morning from the virus, raising the toll to 39.

In the same vein, a cancer patient prisoner has been revealed to be infected with the virus amid Israeli medical negligence and deliberate disregard for the international guidelines for the care and management of COVID-19 in Israeli jails.

The Committee of Prisoners and Former Prisoners Affairs revealed on Sunday that the cancer patient prisoner Kamal Abu Wa’r (46 years old) from Qabatya, Jenin has been tested positive for Covid-19.

The committee held the Israeli authorities responsible for the life of Abu Wa’r and demanded to immediately test all patient prisoners for the virus.