In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
1- The world, including Palestine, is currently witnessing a sharp increase in patients with COVID-19. The vaccine needs time to arrive. We are still waiting for the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation on the vaccine, noting that some countries have already started or will start the vaccination process within days.
2- Since the beginning of the pandemic, the number of COVID-19 cases in Palestine has reached 112,035, including around 26,000 active cases; 10,600 in the Gaza Strip and 14,210 in the West Bank, including Jerusalem. Currently, there are 58 critical cases in intensive care units, including 18 patients on respirators. We conduct around 9,000 COVID-19 tests per day, a total of approximately 800,000 tests since the beginning of the pandemic. More than 40,000 cases are at home/ self-isolation. The total number of deaths has reached 699 in the West Bank, 108 in Jerusalem, and 149 in the Gaza Strip.
3- In the Gaza Strip, 400 cases are in hospitals, including 154 serious cases and 39 critical cases. Tests are conducted for people above 50 only; others are being tested in clinics if they have symptoms.
4- In the West Bank, there are 3074 schools, of which 55 are closed, while schools in Gaza (704) are all closed. The total number of confirmed cases among students is 2837, while the total number of confirmed cases among the educational and administrative staff is 1589. COVID-19 cases among persons aged 4-17 years constitute 12% of all cases. This percentage remained proportional to the societal increase in the number of cases, and it was not significantly affected by the reopening of schools.
Accordingly, and under the powers vested in us following the Emergency Law issued by President Mahmoud Abbas, and based on the recommendations of the High National Emergency Committee, the Epidemiological and Health Committee, the Council of Ministers, and the Security Committee, we have decided the following:
1- The governorates of Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Tulkarm shall be entirely closed for seven days, as of 7:00 PM on 10 December 2020. All retail and service stores shall be closed, except pharmacies, bakeries, supermarkets, and grocery stores.
2- The teaching process in these governorates shall be conducted remotely. Workers are requested to remain in their workplaces during the closure days.
3- Movement between all governorates shall be banned for seven days, from the evening of Thursday, 10 December, until the evening of Thursday, 17 December, except for the transportation of agricultural, service, and food products.
4- All governmental, civil, and private institutions shall operate upon the emergency system. The number of employees in any institution should not exceed 30% of the staff: to be applied in all governorates for seven days, from the evening of 10 December until 17 December.
5- The night closure shall continue in all governorates for ten days, as of tonight until Thursday, 17 December.
6- All Prayers shall be performed at home in all governorates for ten days, as of Thursday, 10 December.
7- Weddings, funerals, and all types of crowds shall be prohibited in all regions regardless of their classification, whether in A, B, or C Areas, noting that we do not recognize these classifications.
8- Schools in the four completely-closed governorates (Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Tulkarm) shall be closed - the education process shall be remotely conducted. The current applied system by the Ministry of Education shall continue in the remaining governorates.
9- Emergency committees in all governorates shall be reactivated.
10- Financial penalties will apply to those who violate these procedures and the precautionary measures. All stores that violate these procedures shall be closed.
11- All private and civil hospitals in all governorates, especially Nablus, shall allocate spaces for COVID-19 patients. It shall be prohibited for any hospital to reject any cases transferred by the Ministry of Health under penalty of law.
12- Chambers of Commerce, national and civil institutions, universities, and media outlets shall be requested to contribute to citizens' awareness and urge them to abide by the procedures so as not to implement more procedures or extend the current ones. We are carefully monitoring the situation day-to-day. If the number of cases decreases, we shall review the current guidelines.
Long Live Palestine