By AFP More by this AuthorJerusalem,Israel's government said on Friday it was imposing new restrictions to limit the spiralling spread of coronavirus in the hope of avoiding a general lockdown further along the line. AdvertisementCRITICISMThe new steps were "to prevent a general lockdown in light of the sharp increase in the morbidity of the coronavirus." Israel won praise for its initial response to the Covid-19 outbreak, but the government has come under criticism amid a resurgence in cases after lockdown measures were lifted. The country of some nine million people had recorded 46,059 confirmed cases by Thursday night, including 384 dead. "Violation of any of the above restrictions shall constitute a criminal offence," the statement said.

Source: Daily Nation July 17, 2020 11:15 UTC