The Israeli Cabinet approved a three-week lockdown that will bar Israelis from traveling more than 500 meters from home except for essentials, closing schools and limiting the private sector in a repeat of the country's strict April lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19, The Times of Israel reported Sept. 13. The lockdown will begin at 2 p.m. on Sept. 18, just as the country begins to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised new aid for those affected by the shutdown. The Israeli Health Ministry has said it aims to lift the lockdown when the country's daily case rate dropped below 1,000 a day. On Sept. 12, the case number stood at about 4,000, before depressed weekend figures showed 2,715 on Sept. 13.