Secretary of State in the Ministry of Interior Raed Arafat announced on Thursday evening that in the localities where the incidence of COVID-19 infection exceeds 4 per thousand, movement will be allowed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until 20:00, and the activity of the economic operators will take place until 18:00.
“As for the time frame when movement is allowed: where the incidence is over 4 per thousand in the last 14 days, traffic will be allowed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until 20:00, and for economic operators, the activity will be allowed until 18:00. This measure no longer applies during the weekend when the incidence falls below 3.5 per thousand,” said Raed Arafat in a press conference at Victoria Palace.
Initially, there was a proposal that the movement of people outside localities with an infection rate higher than 3 per 1,000 inhabitants should be banned, with some exceptions such as for justified reasons: for work, to take care of a minor, elderly or ill person or for medical assistance, but the measure has been dropped.
So, stores will close earlier during the weekend in localities with a rate higher than 4 per 1,000, at 6 p.m. If the rate is higher than 7, stores will close down at 6 p.m. during the whole week.
Gym and fitness centers will be shut down.
According to the draft, movement of people is allowed outside their house/household during April 3-April 5, on the Catholic Easter and during May 1-May 2, Orthodox Easter to attend religious services.