Palestine says easing lockdown not to undermine health measures

Palestine on Thursday said that the newly decided easing of lockdown does not undermine precautionary health measures imposed across the country.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye told reporters at the Health Ministry in the West Bank city of Ramallah that the new decisions do not include easing the precautionary health measures concerning the COVID-19 testing and contraction.

"We are aware that the pandemic is going to have implications on the social, economic, psychological and security levels, but the government has dealt with the urgent requirements since the first day of the pandemic and has managed to contain it," he added.

On April 20, the Palestinian government declared relaxing some measures for the benefit of economic sectors after 45 days of closure.

Nevertheless, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared a state of emergency again on Monday.

According to the head of Palestinian Health Ministry's Preventative Medicine Department Ali Abedrabo, the precautionary measures are in place, including social distancing and hygiene.

Abedrabo said that the rate of the recovered cases has reached 40 percent.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry in Gaza Strip said that the Rafah border crossing with Egypt will reopen next week for Palestinians who have been stranded outside.

The ministry's spokesperson Iyad al-Bozom said that all the returning citizens will be required a 21-day quarantine upon their arrival in Gaza.