Israeli authorities lifted Thursday morning a nationwide curfew for the tail-end days of Passover and the Mimouna festival as officials indicated they could soon start lifting further restrictions put in place to stave off the spread of coronavirus.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday evening the lockdown was set to begin at 5pm Tuesday and last until Thursday at 5am, covering the end of Passover on Wednesday but not the Mimouna celebrations traditionally held by Jews of North African origin after the final day of the holiday.
From 5am, Israelis are again allowed to leave their cities and communities. Public transportation was also resumed to a limited extent.
Some Jerusalem neighborhoods and the city of Bnei Brak, Israel's two major coronavirus hotspots, are still under lockdown that is set to wrap up Thursday afternoon.
The latter, however, is set to partially reopen later on in the day as authorities, reportedly, decided against extending a two-week lockdown on the predominately ultra-Orthodox city.
Earlier on Wednesday, police dismantled most of the checkpoints set up in the area, anticipating an end to the lockdown.
It is currently unclear whether the lockdown will also be lifted for Jerusalem communities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene the government Thursday 3pm to discuss an exit plan from the coronavirus crisis and the gradual reopening of the economy.
The apparent outline for Israel's exit strategy is divided into three main stages.
The first step, which is set to begin after Passover (April 18 until May 3), suggests non-essential businesses should be allowed to resume operations to 50%.
The Health Ministry, however, suggests non-essential businesses should resume operations to 30%.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will decide on the issue.
Stores and shopping centers of up to 15 stores will reopen under Health Ministry guidelines and customers will be allowed to pick up takeouts at food marts.
The special education system and preschools are set to resume operations under a limited footing while reducing the number of students in each classroom.
The public will be allowed to leave home to purchase non-essential products, other than food and medicine.
The second step, which is set to begin on May 3 until May 17, suggests businesses should resume operations to 85%.
Schools will resume limited operations while reducing the number of students in each classroom.
The third step, which is set to begin on May 17 until May 30, suggests businesses should resume operations to 100% while complying with Health Ministry guidelines.
At all stages, busses will be limited to taking 25 passengers at a time.