Premier Mohammad Shtayyeh announced Tuesday evening a partial ease on the lockdown restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Speaking in daily evening briefing at the Prime Minister’s Office in Ramallah, Shtayyeh stated that Palestine was entering an important phase towards a gradual and phased exit from the coronavirus pandemic crisis, although the pandemic danger remains in place.
As part of the relaxation guidelines, the public would be allowed to go around in daytime, but have to remain in house in nighttime, and some businesses would be allowed to resume work.
The relaxation stage will see barbershops and hair saloons re-opening on Fridays and Saturdays everywhere, except for governorates infected with COVID-19, provided that the hairdressers comply with safety measures while working, including wearing masks and gloves
It will also see construction sites reopening in all governorates, and clothing, footwear and home appliances stores reopening throughout the week in the governorates not infected with the virus and for three days in governorates infected with the virus.
Jewelry stores will be allowed to resume work on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays, while restrictions on banking will be more eased in non-infected governorates.
Under the new guidelines, public transportation will return in the non-infected governorates of Tubas, Jenin, Tulkarem, Qalqilia, Salfit and Jericho, and private transportation between these non-infected governorates will also return.
However, restrictions on public gatherings, including mosques, churches, kindergartens, nurseries, and academic institutions, will remain in place.
Shtayyeh added that if the coronavirus pandemic is brought under control, the government would recommend that President Mahmoud Abbas ends the extended state of emergency, that is expected to last until June 5.