RAMALLAH, Friday, April 3, 2020 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Friday issued a decree extending the state of emergency for a month amidst a rise in coronavirus cases in the occupied territories.

“We have decided to extend the state of emergency for 30 days throughout the occupied Palestinian territories to confront the coronavirus outbreak,” read Article (1) of the presidential decree.

“The competent authorities shall continue to take all necessary measures to tackle the risks arising from the pandemic outbreak, protect the public health, and bring about security and stability,” read Article (2) of the presidential decree.

The extension came following the recommendation of Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, who recommended that Abbas extends the state of emergency to enable the health and security services to control the spread of COVID-19.

Shtayyeh has tightened the measures to contain the possible influx of thousands of Palestinian workers anticipated to come from their workplaces in Israel during the coming days.

As part of the new measures, Shtayyeh announced that movement hours will be reduced in all the West Bank cities to between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and all the stores should close after 5 p.m except for pharmacies.

Official data indicates that there are around 45,000 workers still inside Israel or the Israeli colonial settlements in the West Bank.

Yesterday late night, Palestine announced a confirmed coronavirus case, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 161.

K.F.