Israel announces travel restrictions on Bnei Brak due to high COVID-19 infection rate

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday a limitation on exiting and entering the Jewish ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak because of its high coronavirus infection rate.

According to data published by the Israeli Ministry of Health, Bnei Barak, located in central Israel, has the highest rate of coronavirus infections among all Israeli cities.

Netanyahu noted that the city will receive special aid, including the allocation of hotel rooms for residents diagnosed with coronavirus, who will not need hospitalization.

Earlier on Wednesday, the nearby city of Ramat Gan demanded to impose a full closure on Bnei Brak because of the high infection rate, and even threatened to file a petition to Israel's High Court of Justice.

Netanyahu also announced a grant of 500 new shekels (about 139 U.S. dollars) for each Israeli child, up to 2,000 new shekels per family.