Israel is locking down (again): Here’s what you need to know
The country’s latest lockdown begins Thursday at midnight and ends two weeks later on January 21.
By MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMANStores are seen shuttered closed and streets are empty in Jerusalem's Old City amid Israel's third coronavirus lockdown, on January 4, 2021.(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
After a long and heated debate on Wednesday night, the government approved the regulations for the country’s latest lockdown, which began at midnight on Thursday and is due to end after two weeks, on January 21.These are the rules for the current lockdown:> Gatherings: Limited to five people inside or 10 people outside, except at approved events such as weddings and funerals where there can be 10 people inside and 20 outside.>> Gathering in someone else’s home is prohibited.Fine for refusing to disperse if caught gathering: NIS 1,000.Fine for gathering in a forbidden place – a business that is not supposed to be open, or a synagogue, for example: NIS 500.> Travel abroad: Permitted only to those who purchased their flights before the lockdown was imposed and except for purposes specified in the regulations, or with the approval of the director-general of the Transportation Ministry.> Professional sports: Training only, no competitions.> Visiting the elderly: Forbidden unless essential to their health.> Schools: Closed, except for special education; boarding schools may operate if the pupils agree not to leave the campus for at least 30 days.> Workplaces: Closed, except for those that offer essential goods or services. Factories for the provision of subsistence services, or workplaces that engage in construction or infrastructure.>>Companies that need employees to be able to function, including service providers to repair faults, maintenance, deliveries, wage payments etc. can do so.>>Lawyers have been added to the list of essential workers, as have employees of the Central Elections Committee.> Transportation: Reduced to 50% occupancy.> Elections: People can leave their houses to vote and polling stations may open for this purpose.Movement: No further than 1,000 meters from home, except:> To receive a vaccination.> For medical or social care.> Attending a protest.> Legal proceedings.> Approved sporting activity (alone and within walking distance from home).> Transferring a minor between separated parents.> Going to work if you are an essential worker.> Attending a funeral or wedding according to guidelines.Fine for leaving home for a forbidden purpose: NIS 500> Closures of bed and breakfasts, zoos, nature reserves and national parks, complementary medicines, beauty parlors and hair salons.Fine for operating one of these locations or working at one of them: NIS 5,000.> Restaurants: Delivery service only.Other ways to incur a fine:> Leaving isolation without authorization: NIS 5,000.> Traveling by public transportation to the location where you will be isolating: NIS 5,000.> Returning from abroad and failing to enter isolation: NIS 5,000.> Failing to report that you are in isolation: NIS 3,000.> Not wearing a mask: NIS 500.
