![Israelis wearing masks and gloves against the coronavirus outside a branch of Israel's Bank Hapoalim in Jerusalem on May 1, 2020 [MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/GettyImages-1211432379-scaled-e1599388998932.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)
Israel on Tuesday began a week-long campaign of night curfews and school closures in dozens of towns and neighbourhoods with high coronavirus counts, hoping it will help stem a spike in cases.
Most of the 40 zones subject to the partial lockdowns are identified with Israeli Arabs or ultra-Orthodox Jews, minorities where crowding has helped spread the pandemic.
Israel, with a population of 9 million, has recorded 135,288 cases of COVID-19 and 1,031 deaths.
Some government officials have called for a nationwide lockdown if the partial measures fail. That could disrupt celebrations of the Jewish high holy days, which run from September 18 to October 10.
READ: Ultra-Orthodox Jews reject Covid-19 lockdown in Israel