Israel to start easing lockdown as coronavirus infection rates slow down

Israel will gradually start easing its lockdown from Sunday by letting some businesses reopen and relaxing curbs on movement following a slowdown in coronavirus infection rates, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday.

On March 14, authorities have tightened a partial lockdown, shuttering offices, closing schools and ordering people to stay mostly at home.

Netanyahu said in televised remarks Israel had “succeeded in (its) mission so far” in combating the pandemic and argued that the restrictions had “proven themselves in a slowdown” in infection rates.

The measures have resulted in battering Israel’s economy, forcing many businesses to close and sending unemployment above 25 percent.

To date, Israel has reported more than 164 deaths and nearly 13,300 cases of coronavirus. However, health ministry data showed that infection rates have generally fell over the past two weeks.