RAMALLAH, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye said on Wednesday that the Palestinian Authority decided to put three cities in the West Bank under complete lockdown.

The decision to lock down the cities of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour was made upon the instructions of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Ishtaye said in a press statement aired on the official Palestinian Television.

Earlier on Wednesday, Ibrahim Melhem, spokesman of the Palestinian government, told a news briefing that three more Palestinians have been infected with COVID-19 in the district of Bethlehem, raising the total number of cases to 44.

"The decision to tighten the precautionary measures and the lockdown of the three cities was made in the light of discovering new cases in Bethlehem district and other areas in the West Bank," Ishtaye said.

Anyone under home quarantine "must be committed to staying at home and anyone who violates the instructions will be sued," he warned.

The prime minister also announced that movement of individuals, traffic and public transportation between the cities and districts will not be allowed, except in urgent cases.

He also asked the Palestinians who work in Israeli settlements not to go to work, saying all workers will not be allowed in or out of the West Bank for one month starting from Sunday. Enditem

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