Saturday, an official at the Palestinian Ministry of Health said that the occupancy rate of intensive care units for people infected with the coronavirus has reached 95 percent, which is a "dangerous indicator" as cases surge in the state.

The Coronavirus Patients Portfolio Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, Anan Rashid, warned of the health sector's inability to deal with the significant increase in new mutations of the virus that began to infect young people and require their transfer to hospitals.

In a radio interview with the 'Voice of Palestine' radio, Rashid attributed the reason for the high number of COVID-19 infections to people's lack of commitment to the set health measures and the spread of the British COVID-19 strain, which constitutes 60 to 70 percent of patients in hospitals.

In light of the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh announced Saturday, a set of new measures to tackle the pandemic.

Shtayyeh announced the following:

1- All public and private schools will be suspended starting Sunday 28/2/2021, except for high school students for a period of 12 days. Kindergarten and nurseries are left to be decided on by the Ministry of Social Development, and each case will be treated separately.

2- All universities, institutes, and educational and training departments will be shut down, while following distance education programs, and administrative staff will be allowed access to facilities by no more than 50 percent attendance.

3- Movement is strictly prohibited, including not moving between the governorates of the homeland, including Occupied Jerusalem.

4- Cars and all modes of transport are prohibited from 7pm to 6am, and commercial places are closed during these hours, with the exception of pharmacies and bakeries.

5- Friday and Saturday will constitute days of total lockdown. Any form of movement is prohibited.

6- Governors hold the power to close any city or camp as necessary.

7- Weddings, parties and funerals are prohibited.

8- Health clubs are only permitted to operate in open areas.

9- Palestinians and those who reside in Palestinian territories are strictly forbidden to enter Israeli Occupation lands.

10- Municipal services, emergency services, food and agricultural supplies, medical staff, bakeries and pharmacies are excluded from lockdown measures, while adhering to safety protocols.

11- The ministries will remain open at a rate not exceeding 50 percent of the staff, and it is up to each minister to arrange the aforementioned logistics for his or her ministry except for the Ministry of Health.

12- Private and industrial sectors can operate at a rate of 50 percent attendance, including restaurants and cafes.

13- Whoever violates any of the provisions of this resolution shall be punished with the penalties stipulated by Law No. (7) 2020.

14- The commanders of the security services, each with regard to their powers, shall undertake the task of issuing instructions and orders to implement the provisions of this resolution.

15- Governors and the police are tasked with tightening control over places of assembly and overcrowding.

16- The duration of these procedures is 12 days starting Sunday, Feb 28, 2021.