A closure on the Arab town of Deir el-Asad and its immediate neighbor Bi'ina in northern Israel came into effect Saturday morning after a spike in confirmed coronavirus cases.
A ministerial committee on Friday declared the two communities restricted as areas, fearing the further spread of the virus. The measures were to be in place for a period of seven days.
Deir el-Asad now has at least 62 confirmed cases out of a population of 12,400. It showed a 589% rise in cases within just three days after extensive testing was conducted by Israel's largest HMO, Clalit. Bi'ina has nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 out of a population of 8,300.
In order to enforce the new orders, Israel Police has set up roadblocks at eight points around the two communities restricting movement in and out of the towns. Residents inside were also asked to maintain the social distancing guidelines already in effect for over a month.
The IDF Home Front Command are responsible for providing food, medicine and other essential needs to the residents.
Authorities were concerned after more Arab communities across Israel began to show an increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, fearing a further spread of the virus during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins next week.
Neighboring communities have also been asked to maintain their social distancing.
The Home Front Command said it would be launching a media campaign warning the population of the risks if social distancing is not observed.
There have also been increases of infection in other communities identified as hot spots, with 57 additional diagnoses in Bnei Brak since Friday and 47 in Jerusalem.
Overall in Israel, the daily rise in coronavirus cases has consistently been 4% for the past 12 days. This means the number of confirmed cases now doubles every 16 days as opposed to every three days - before social distancing was enforced in Haredi communities.
First published: 12:37, 04.18.20