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An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man wearing a protective mask crosses a street in the religious Israeli city of Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv. (Credit: AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday a national lockdown would begin on Tuesday and end on Friday to try to stem the spread of the new coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Passover.
In a televised address, he said travel restrictions would be tightened on Tuesday and that Israelis will be banned from leaving their homes on Wednesday evening, when families traditionally travel to festive Passover "seder" meals.