Coronavirus: Red cities list released, more than 3,400 new patients

The list of red cities includes mostly haredi and Arab communities, as expected.

By TZVI JOFFRE, MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN
Israeli border policewomen chat with local residents at the entrance to Bnei Brak as Israel enforces a lockdown of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish town badly affected by coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Bnei Brak, Israel April 3, 2020 (photo credit: AMMAR AWAD / REUTERS)
Israeli border policewomen chat with local residents at the entrance to Bnei Brak as Israel enforces a lockdown of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish town badly affected by coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Bnei Brak, Israel April 3, 2020
(photo credit: AMMAR AWAD / REUTERS)
After a delay of more than 24 hours, the Ministerial Committee on Declaring Restricted Zones released a list of 40 cities that will go under night curfew beginning at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The list was released as the number of patients spiked to more than 3,400 in a single day.
The entire committee voted in favor, except for Interior Minister Arye Deri.
Last Thursday, the coronavirus cabinet voted to approve coronavirus commissioner Prof. Ronni Gamzu's "traffic light" program, which color codes the country and places the most severe restrictions or even closure on red zones. 
The government was expected to approve a list of eight to 10 cities to lockdown on Sunday and another 20 or so to restrict. However, after pressure from the haredi sector, including a group of haredi mayors who said they would not cooperate with a lockdown, the outline changed.
According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the delay was logistical - the government is required to listen to and consult with their leaders. However, insiders reported there was heated debate over which cities would make the list.
In a letter to the coronavirus commissioner Prof. Ronni Gamzu, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion protested the closure orders on some of the nine Jerusalem neighborhoods that were included in the red-city areas.
“A night closure on neighborhoods in the west of the city is simply ineffective. The virus doesn’t have hours when it rests. At the same time, the rationale for restricting movement at night in the Arab sector in order to prevent weddings is a major, understandable, and targeted focus for sake of the Arab residents themselves,” Lion said. 
The neighborhoods include the Ramat Shlomo, Ramot and Sanhedriya Jewish neighborhoods in West Jerusalem, while the rest are predominantly Arab sections in East Jerusalem.
Lion continued, “If we are imposed a general closure in order to eradicate the virus then we will all be mobilized, with all our might, with understanding and determination. However, violating the freedom of movement of Jerusalem residents in a way that does not prevent the spread of the virus is neither proportionate nor effective. " 
He questioned the data behind the decision, writing that the data on the city was inaccurate as many of those confirmed as infected are in yeshivas in other cities and a "considerable amount" of infections have not been connected to specific neighborhoods.

Stay updated with the latest news!

Subscribe to The Jerusalem Post Newsletter

Subscribe Now
Beit Shemesh Mayor Aliza Bloch wrote a similar letter on Tuesday, stating that the majority of cases recorded in the city were recorded in one yeshiva and that a considerable number of the other cases were in yeshivas outside of the city.
The Health Ministry said that the night curfews would be in effect until September 15, 2020. 
The list: 
 
1. Abu Snan
2. Umm al-Fahm
3. Shahamon neighborhood in Eilat
4. Elad
5. Gimel, Zayin and Het neighborhoods in Ashdod
6. Mitzpe Barnea, Ganei Barnea, Neot Barnea, Givat Zion and Karmei Tzion neighborhoods in Ashkelon
7. Buq'ata
8. Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef and Gimel and Menuha V'Nahala neighborhoods in Beit Shemesh
9. Bnei Brak
10. Beitar Illit
11. Nujeidat in Bu'eine Nujeidat
12. Baqa al-Gharbiyye
13. Julis
14. Jajulia
15. Jat
16. Daliyat al-Karmel
17. Ibtan
18. Taibe
19. Tira
20. Yafa an-Naseriyye
21. Kfar Ekev, Beit Hanina, Ramat Shlomo, Ramot, A-Tur, Issawiya, 'Anata, Shuafat and Sanhedriya neighborhoods in Jerusalem
22. Kisra
23. Kafr Bara
24. Kafr Manda
25. Kafr Qasim, except for the Lev Haaretz and Nof Haaretz industrial zones
26. Kafr Qara
27. Laqiya
28. Musheirifa and Salem
29. Nazareth
30. Netivot
31. Ein Mahil
32. Emanuel
33. Isfiya
34. Ar'ara
35. Fureidis
36. Qalansawe
37. Reineh
38. Rekhasim
39. Neot Yitzhak Rabin and Neot HaNeviim neighborhoods in Sderot
40. Shefa-'Amr
There were 3,425 people diagnosed with the novel coronavirus in the last day, the Health Ministry reported on Tuesday. Of the sick, 467 are in serious condition, including 134 who are intubated. 
There are 941 people being treated in the hospital. 
Two more people died overnight, bringing the death toll to 1,031.