Israel imposed its third nationwide lockdown on Sunday to confront a rise in coronavirus cases, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing the shutdown would be the final push to overcome the pandemic.
Residents were ordered to stay at home and all non-essential stores and services were shut from 5pm, while schools will be partially closed.
“We are heading to a huge vaccine operation unlike anything in the world and I ask you at the same time to do the short and tightened lockdown,” Mr Netanyahu said on the eve of the new measures.
Although the rules have been approved for two weeks, health officials have warned they may need to be extended further to drive down the current infection rate of 4.4 per cent.
Before the new restrictions coming into force, central Jerusalem was bustling with shoppers and queues formed outside some outlets.
Serving customers in a busy book shop, Sarah Barkai described the lockdown as “unfortunately necessary” and important to save lives.
"We're almost out of this. Everyone is getting the vaccine, my parents, bless them, are getting it next week," said Ms Barkai, 44.
Over the past week more than 280,000 people have received their first coronavirus vaccine, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said on Sunday, while officials are aiming to increase injections over the next few days.
Although shops selling essentials will stay open during the lockdown, some are expecting to take a financial hit.
“People won’t come out a lot,” said Nis Peretz, 31, working in Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda food market. “When you sell food you can be open, but it’s not normal,” in terms of footfall, he added.
The lockdown is set to cost the economy 2.5 billion shekels ($776 million) a week, according to a Bank of Israel assessment.
Residents have been ordered to stay within a kilometre of their home, although there are exceptions such as travelling to offices which are allowed to operate at a limited capacity.
Going running, attending a circumcision or getting vaccinated are also featured on a list of reasons people can break the one-kilometre barrier without facing a fine of 500 shekels.
Israel’s latest lockdown came before it had fully emerged from the second shutdown, imposed in September when the country had one of the world’s highest infection rates.
After being praised for its handling of the pandemic in March, the government was widely criticised for its perceived mismanagement of the health crisis over the summer months.
In early May around 230 people had died from coronavirus in Israel, a figure which has now hit 3,222, out of a population of nine million.
The December measures follow Israel registering six cases of a new coronavirus variant which was initially detected in England. The emergence of the highly-infectious variant prompted Israel to order all returning travellers to quarantine in government-run hotels.
While the Israeli prime minister said an end to the health crisis is in sight, the Palestinian Authority described a “catastrophic” and worsening situation in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
The spread of the virus in the West Bank was blamed on residents refusing to abide by a lockdown in place since mid-December, according to the PA’s health ministry spokesman, Kamal Al Shakhra, quoted by Palestinian news agency Wafa.
Some 1,083 people have died from the virus in the West Bank, home to more than three million Palestinians, while the death toll among Gaza’s two million residents stands at 323, according to World Health Organisation data.
A severe shortage of tests resulted in 32 per cent of samples coming back positive last week in Gaza, where the Hamas leadership has enforced measures to curb coronavirus.
While the Israeli government aims to be carrying out 150,000 vaccines daily within a week, there are currently no plans to offer these to Palestinians.
The PA is expected to initially gain support from the global Covax scheme, established to help developing nations vaccinate 20 per cent of their population.
"We don’t know exactly yet when vaccines will become available for distribution,” said Gerald Rockenschaub, head of WHO’s Jerusalem office. "We estimate that it could be in early to mid-2021.”
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6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
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Power: 905hp
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Iron Man
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Thor
He's a god
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
Profile of VoucherSkout
Date of launch: November 2016
Founder: David Tobias
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers
Sector: Technology
Size: 18 employees
Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake
Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars”
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
MATCH INFO
Brescia 1 (Skrinia og, 76)
Inter Milan 2 (Martinez 33, Lukaku 63)
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
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Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
Europe's top EV producers
- Norway (63% of cars registered in 2021)
- Iceland (33%)
- Netherlands (20%)
- Sweden (19%)
- Austria (14%)
- Germany (14%)
- Denmark (13%)
- Switzerland (13%)
- United Kingdom (12%)
- Luxembourg (10%)
Source: VCOe
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
