Jerusalem Neighborhoods Placed in Coronavirus Lockdown, Chloroquine Arrives in Israel

Jerusalem, 12 April, 2020 (TPS) -- The government voted on Saturday evening to place several Ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods in Jerusalem under a full closure and curfew in an effort to stem the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

All movement in the neighborhoods is banned except for exiting for permitted work, essential medical care, the funeral of a first-degree family member, transfer of a minor between divorced parents, legal process and any other essential pre-authorized needs.

The Ultra-Orthodox city pf Bnei Brak remained under a complete closure on Sunday after the city had emerged as an epicenter for the outbreak of Coronavirus. A third of those tested for the virus in the city tested positive.

The IDF streamed forces into the city and they engaged in maintaining order and providing humanitarian assistance.

A total count of patients in Israel shows that one in every seven patients is Ultra-Orthodox.

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri warned last week at the Knesset that the Coronavirus infection rate in some Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) Jerusalem neighborhoods is even higher than in the city of Bnei Brak, and the main problem in the Haredi communities is that not enough tests have been administered.

All Israelis are required from Sunday to wear a nose and mouth mask in public, another measure to stop the spread of the virus.

In the meantime, three shipments from three countries landed on Sunday morning in Israel with needed medical equipment and some 2.4 million chloroquine pills.

The shipments, which were brought by the procurement command center led by Mossad Director Yossi Cohen, include 2.5 tons of anesthetics from Italy, 2.4 million pills of chloroquine from India, an experimental anti-coronavirus drug, and millions of protective equipment components, including masks and coveralls, from China.

As a result of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a shipment left India several days ago including tons of raw materials for producing chloroquine.

“Netanyahu thanks Indian Prime Minister Modi for specially approving the shipment,” his office stated.

The Ministry of Health updated Sunday morning that the number of Coronavirus patients in Israel was registered at 10,878.

123 of the patients are on respirators, another 51 are in serious condition, and 155 are in moderate condition. 1,388 Israelis have recovered from the virus.

One person died of the virus overnight, bringing the total number of Coronavirus casualties in Israel to 102.

Most of the Corona casualties were elderly people with previous illnesses. 30 percent of them were infected in old age homes.

The novel Coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting 210countries around the world.

At least 1,780,700 cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide, including at least 109,000 deaths. Some 405,000 have recovered.