Coronavirus: Palestinians renew occupied West Bank outbreak emergency

The state of emergency in place since March 22 will now last until at least June 5, President Mahmoud Abbas announced

Palestinian workers from the West Bank city of Hebron carry belongings as they cross the checkpoint of Mitar on their way to work in Israel 05 May 2020, amid the ongoing coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic.Show more

President Mahmud Abbas renewed a coronavirus lockdown in Palestinian-ruled areas of the West Bank for a further month late Monday, though some measures will be eased.

The state of emergency in place since March 22 will now last until at least June 5, Abbas announced.

But movement between cities in the Israeli-occupied territory will be eased and steps taken towards reopening shops and other businesses, he added.

The measures do not apply to the Gaza Strip, another part of the Palestinian territories which is run by the rival Hamas-led government and where restrictions have already been eased.

So far there have been 345 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, with two deaths.

Israel has more than 15,000 cases and the Palestinian government is concerned that the tens of thousands of Palestinians working inside Israel could bring fresh cases, especially with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr at the end of the month.

Israel imposed similar measures to prevent gatherings during recent Jewish and national holidays.

The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most patients, who recover within a few weeks, but it can cause severe illness or death, particularly older people and those with underlying health problems.

Israel has reported more than 16,000 cases and 223 deaths.