Israeli police officers wearing protective clothing as a preventive measure against the coronavirus in the religious neighborhood of Meah Shearim, April 6, 2020. (Photo/JTA-Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) News Israel Israel declares complete coronavirus lockdown on eve of Passover Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By Marcy Oster, JTA | April 6, 2020 Israelis will be under a complete lockdown beginning on Tuesday through at least Friday to stem the spread of the coronavirus during the Passover holiday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the closure on Monday evening in a nationally televised address from his official residence in Jerusalem. Israelis will not be permitted to leave their houses on Wednesday evening, the night of the Passover seder, from 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following day. Netanyahu said that Israel may begin to roll back some stay-in-place restrictions after Passover and the holiday of Mimouna — a less widely observed Jewish holiday which takes place the day after the end of Passover. “I know this is a big burden, but there is no choice. I ask that you do this in self-discipline for your sake and for your loved ones – for the police and medical teams,” Netanyahu said. As of Monday evening, Israel had 8,904 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with a death toll of 57. “On Purim, the virus spread. I’m telling you now clearly, Pesach will be not be Purim. Every family will do Pesach with their immediate family,” Netanyahu added. Marcy Oster Israel-based JTA correspondent JTA Content distributed by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency news service. Also On J. Bay Area Passover lockdown in Israel cuts ‘lone soldiers’ from Bay Area off from family Shorts: Passover Religion Passover in the Holy of Holies Passover shuts restaurants down for a week Subscribe to our Newsletter Enter Email Sign Up