Israel Not To Impose Total Lockdown - Netanyahu

TEL AVIV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 17th March, 2020) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a series of new measures in connection with the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and said that there would be no total lockdown in the country.

"The transition of the public sector to the format of the state of emergency, the private sector is switching to a reduced format, state services - in full format," Netanyahu said.

"We do not lock people at home. I'm not talking about a total lockdown, I hope we will not get to this," he said, adding that a local quarantine was possible.

According to the Israeli Health Ministry, 298 Israelis were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, the condition of four of them is assessed as serious.