“In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate”

Today, I would like to tell you thank you for you've created a success story of our duty to protect you. I know that some of you have been distressed during the past period, whether financially, psychologically, or socially. However, this sacrifice has saved us all from an exacerbating pandemic in our homeland. Look at what has been happening in the world.

We've started in the right way, so let us successfully conclude this scene in a way that protects our people.

I assure you that we are in an essential stage towards exiting this pandemic. We've started with an order and will come out the same way. However, the danger is still present, and any surprises are possible.

Between yesterday and today, twelve COVID-19 cases were recorded in Al- Samu' Town (in Hebron Governorate). Today, twenty-five cases have made it to full recovery. It is the most pleasant to the President's heart to see that you are safe and to see that life would return to better than it was before this pandemic.

We hope that you understand that the measures we have been taking are not a punishment, but for your sake. And know that the security forces personnel, who have not returned to their homes for 60 days, are present for your safety. We extend our gratitude and appreciation to them along with the medical staff, emergency committees, municipal employees, popular and factional frameworks, and everyone who has been contributing to this national effort.

Today, we do not say, stay at your homes all day and night. Instead, fulfill your needs and work during the daytime, and stay at your homes at nighttime. The returning to normal movement without restrictions, returning to family visits and gatherings, may again lead us to the circle of danger. We will gradually reduce these restrictions according to the necessary health procedures.

The order today is to use masks, gloves, sterilizers, and keeping distance between people. The more you help us, the easier it will be for us to decide the mitigation of restrictions.

Now, we are in control of the virus's epidemiological map, and we have moved from the stage of waiting to test the suspected cases to examining suspected areas to guarantee they are pandemic-free.

Today, our ability to conduct tests has enabled us to mitigate restrictions in some areas, and we could obtain results of plate-based COVID-19 tests within ten minutes

while continuing to use the swab-based nasal screening. In some cases, we may conduct both test methods to ensure your safety.

The state of emergency, announced today upon a presidential decree, (is to confront the pandemic, and your experience with us over the past two months has proven to you that any measure we take is for your safety).

[Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh read the full text of the Presidential decree].

Why did we again declare the state of emergency? Because the danger remains present. To ensure prompt action towards any developments and to preserve the working mechanism, which has brought us to the current situation with everyone's participation.

Yesterday and ere-yesterday, the first batches of our citizens, stranded in Jordan, returned home, and we have conducted all necessary tests for them. Today 400 people, including 146 people from the Gaza Strip, have returned too. For our other citizens in the world, we are in close contact with them and seek to facilitate their return once the airports are reopened.

On Sunday, about 13,000 workers have entered the labor market in Israel in an organized way to ensure their safety, and they will stay there until the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which has eased the daily procedures of their transportation. The security services, the Ministry of Labor, the Authority of Civil Affairs, and the Governors are following up on this issue.

But, as I said, the danger remains present. Therefore, safety measures shall become mandatory, including keeping distance between people, hygiene, sterilization, gloves, and masks in public places, stores, markets, and outside households. The most crucial issue is the commitment of shop owners and restaurants [that are selling outside their stores] to these procedures. Anyone who violates this exposes themselves to a penalty or closure of their shops. I hope that you take this very seriously.

Anyone who does not want to stick to these procedures for themselves should do for the safety of others. I advise people not to buy from any store whose owners and workers are not committed to the safety conditions.

I also inform you that we will wholly and gradually ease restrictions on any area that becomes pandemic- free.

Accordingly, we will allow the movement of public transportation within the uninfected governorates, between villages, camps, and cities: in Tubas, Jenin, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Salfit, and Jericho. We will allow private transport between these governorates.

Arranging transportation shall follow according to the safety procedures issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transportation.

Administrative staffs in the institutions of higher education shall be allowed to work in all governorates. Each in their governorate while maintaining the safety requirements and health instructions.

Except for the infected areas, barbershops for men and women shall be allowed to work on Fridays and Saturdays in all governorates - this will be reviewed within a week, noting that reservation is a must. And ensuring that all safety measures are applied and that the number of customers does not exceed two people in one place.

Construction workshops shall be allowed to resume work in all governorates while maintaining safety requirements.

Shoes, clothing, and household stores shall be allowed to open in all uninfected governorates throughout the week. And three days in the affected governorates - as it's currently the case.

Jewelry shops shall also be allowed to reopen three days a week, on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays, while preserving the safety requirements.

Banks shall work with a full staff in the unaffected governorates, and work shall remain at the same pace in other governorates.

As I mentioned, these procedures shall be accompanied by health and safety measures, and we will increase the number of monitoring teams. We have also asked the employees of the ministries of Health, National Economy, Local Government, Agriculture, Labor, and Social Development in various directorates to put themselves at the disposal of Governors to be part of the monitoring teams for implementing safety measures.

We had arranged for female government employees who have children under nine years old to be allowed to work from home. The Ministry of Labor has been following up on this matter with the private sector.

Procedures related to group prayers, nurseries, kindergartens, schools, universities, and gatherings shall remain the same per the recommendations of the epidemiological committee.

The new mitigation measures shall remain under testing. We should reverse them if we have to.

We have entered this crisis with the immunity of our society and the will of our people under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas- and we will get out of it with minimal losses, God willing.

Over the past two months, around 150,000 government employees and 43,000 employees of the civil and non-government organizations have received their full salaries. Additionally, most of the 90,000 workers in Israel have also received their wages. Most workers and employees of the private sector have received either half or a full salary.

Through the Ministry of Social Development, we have provided financial aid to 125,000 families and have distributed 98,000 assistance packages. Emergency committees have also distributed assistance packages to the poor. Nevertheless, there will remain those affected, most of whom have registered with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. We will assist them to the best of our ability. I have mentioned this to tell you that we have assumed our responsibilities.

Banks have also postponed loan repayments. Accordingly, we are fine- with the grace of God, your will, and your determination.

The National fund " Waqfet Ezz" will initiate providing aid to the poor before Eid. Here, we encourage those who can donate and have not yet made a donation to do so. I also hope that those who are not in need to not ask for assistance and allow those in need. Your understanding is essential as much as your cooperation.

We had today received in-kind assistance from the Kingdome of Saudi Arabia and Egypt as well as from Turkey two days ago. We will distribute them to all governorates from Rafah to Jenin. I thank our brothers in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and friendly Turkey for their assistance. We also thank everyone else who has provided or has been supporting us.

Today is going to be the last day for the daily press briefing on the status of COVID-

19. We will announce future updates or instructions through the Government Spokesman and the Ministry of Health using a new mechanism.

To keep our society immune and fortified in the face of the upcoming political entitlements, and the measures of the Israeli occupation, especially the arrests in occupied Jerusalem, the attacks on the Al- Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, and all of Israel's actions through which it aims at annexing vital parts of our lands and imposing sovereignty over the colonies. This matter, if announced, will put us in a new confrontation with the occupation.

During this crisis, you have proven to the world that you are a nation, which deserves respect, independence, and a state. You have also demonstrated how an individual should be nationally committed and disciplined concerning security and society.

Long Live Palestine.