Bethlehem on lockdown after coronavirus outbreak confirmed

[Lucy-Pevensie]

Mar 6, 2020 | CUFI News

The city of Bethlehem has been placed on lockdown after the first Palestinian cases of coronavirus were discovered there.

Israeli officials said the lockdown in Bethlehem had been imposed ‘in coordination with the Palestinian Authority’.

Palestinian authorities announced a month-long state of emergency Thursday night while the Israeli defence ministry said people were ‘forbidden from entering or leaving the city’.

All tourist buses to and from Bethlehem have been banned until further notice, Israeli police have said, with the Church of the Nativity closed until further notice.

The streets in Bethlehem and Ramallah were near empty on Friday morning, with most shops closed.

On Thursday, the Palestinian Authority announced that seven cases had been discovered linked to a hotel in the city.

PA Health Minister Mai al-Kailah said her ministry decided to conduct tests on employees who came in contact with Greek tourists who stayed at the hotel where they work.

Earlier, the PA said it had taken urgent precautionary measures against the coronavirus after discovering a number of suspected cases in Bethlehem.

The measures included closing all mosques and churches in Bethlehem for 14 days and cancelling all workshops, conferences, social and sports activities, Kailah said.

Meanwhile, Israel announced it has delivered 250 Coronavirus testing kits to the Palestinian Authority and held joint training sessions in order to help prevent the outbreak of the virus in Gaza and the West Bank (Judea and Samaria).

The Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced it has been working for the past two weeks with the Palestinian Authority bringing medical professionals together for training for the professional study of the virus, the protection of medical personnel, and the testing of patients suspected of being virus carriers.

https://www.cufi.org.uk/news/bethlehem-on-lockdown-after-coronavirus-outbreak-confirmed/

 

[Lucy-Pevensie]

Coronavirus: Whole of Italy put on lockdown as public told to stay at home

Monday 9 March 2020

PM Giuseppe Conte extends restrictions to the whole of the country, saying: "The future depends on us and everyone must do their part."

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-whole-of-italy-put-on-lockdown-11954097

Italian media is reporting that moments after the announcement, supermarkets were stormed by people frantically buying up food and other essentials.

Italy is Europe's worst-hit nation in the outbreak with 463 virus-related deaths, an increase of almost 100 in a 24-hour period, and more than 9,000 confirmed infections in just over two weeks.

Until 3 April, around 60 million people will effectively be under quarantine by the strict measures which had already been introduced in northern and some central areas over the weekend.

People arriving in the UK from anywhere in Italy have been told by the Foreign Office to self-isolate for 14 days.

 

[Billyd]

IMHO, more people will die worrying about getting the corona virus than will die from the virus.

 

[Lucy-Pevensie]

To date 631 people have died from the virus in Italy. I'm not sure any Italians have died from worrying about it yet.

 

[Bede]

The latest is that the whole of Italy is in lockdown.

 

[Lucy-Pevensie]

The latest is that the whole of Italy is in lockdown.

Sì. Post #2 from yesterday is a news item about that very thing.


The FCO ( Foreign and Commonwealth Office) advise against all but essential travel to Italy, due to an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) and in line with various controls and restrictions imposed by the Italian authorities on 9 March.

British nationals remain able to depart Italy without restriction. Airports remain open throughout Italy. However, airline schedules are subject to change and some flights are being cancelled. Travellers are advised to check flight details with airlines.

Additional restrictions include the closure of museums, cultural institutions and the suspension of all public gatherings and sporting events. Religious ceremonies and funerals are suspended. Ski facilities are closed. Childcare facilities, schools and universities are closed until 3 April. Restaurants and bars remain open with restricted hours and reduced seating.

 

[Lucy-Pevensie]

The Government of India has announced that it will suspend all existing visas for India due to the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19). This change will come into effect from 12:00 GMT 13th March 2020 to 15th April 2020 at the port of departure.