Israel Expands West Bank Restrictions Due to Virus Concerns

(Bloomberg) --

Israel limited the number of Palestinian workers able to enter the country in order to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Workers older than 50 will not be allowed to cross into Israel and Israeli citizens will not be allowed to enter areas administered by the Palestinian Authority, according to a statement from Israel’s Defense Ministry. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared a 30-day state of emergency last week after the first cases of the coronavirus were identified in Bethlehem.

There are now 30 patients in West Bank areas who have tested positive for the illness.

To contact the reporter on this story: Yaacov Benmeleh in Tel Aviv at ybenmeleh@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Nayla Razzouk at nrazzouk2@bloomberg.net, Amy Teibel

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