Thousands of police officers and IDF soldiers have been deployed across the country as Israel is set to enter another nationwide lockdown for the end of the Passover holiday in order to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday evening the lockdown will begin at 5pm Tuesday and last until Thursday at 5am, covering the end of Passover on Wednesday but not the mimouna celebrations traditionally held by Jews of North African origin after the final day of the holiday.
During this time, Israelis will not be allowed to leave their cities and communities, food stores will be closed and all public transport will be suspended. Israelis will not be allowed to venture outside their homes for more than 100 meters, except for emergency situations. Cities and towns with a non-Jewish majority are exempt.
"In addition to the checkpoints, hundreds of police vehicles and officers will scan all the routes across the country, while enforcing the restriction on traffic and identifying citizens who do not follow the guidelines,” Israel Police said in a statement.
“We emphasize, the public should avoid unnecessary encounters with the police and follow the directives so the public health can be maintained.”
In the meantime, Israeli swarmed supermarkets and food stores on Tuesday morning. Alhtough the majority went shopping in line with the health officials' directives, there were some who failed to follow the orders.
Yosef Attias, who stood in line at the Rami Levy supermarket in Ashkelon, said he doesn’t wear protective masks despite government orders because he finds them uncomfortable.
“The surgical mask is uncomfortable, and it suffocates me,” he said. “In my eyes it is nonsense. I have the mask in my hand because of the instructions, but do not believe [it protects]. Everything is decided up above, it [the mask] doesn’t matter.”
Other customers complained that not only their fellow shoppers but also the staff at the store either did not wear protective masks at all or worn them in a way that left their nose and mouth exposed.
Rami Levy supermarket chain said in reply that any employee caught without a mask will receive a warning, while repeated offenders will be terminated from the job.