Israelis put on coronavirus lockdown for Passover holiday celebration

Israelis put on lockdown for Passover holiday celebration this week to control the spread of the coronavirus. Passover begins on Wednesday night with the traditional seder feast that commemorates the biblical story of the Israelites' exodus from slavery in Egypt with prayers, songs and a festive dinner. Usually family and friends across the country gather to celebrate. But Netanyahu said that starting Tuesday afternoon people would not be allowed to leave their cities or towns. Between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning no one should leave their homes.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said travel restrictions that have weighed heavily on the Israeli economy could be gradually eased at the end of the week-long holiday. There have been nearly 9,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Israel and 57 people have died as a result. Netanyahu noted much higher death tolls in other countries and said the numbers in Israel are a result of government measures to contain the outbreak.