Coalition Chairman Mickey Zohar expressed readiness for flexibility in the Corona Committee's discussion regarding the partial opening of some of the businesses with weekdays • Live broadcast

The Knesset's Corona Committee is meeting again today (Monday) to decide whether to accept the restrictions imposed by the government on the night between Thursday and Friday - including the closure of beaches and pools on weekends, the closure of restaurants for tomorrow's meeting and the closure of gyms. The chairman of the coalition said during the discussion in the Corona committee of the Knesset that "we will allow the opening of restaurants in open space, pools and beaches."

Photo: Knesset Channel

MK Mickey Zohar, chairman of the coalition, said during the debate that bothers the prime minister that decisions in the committee would endanger public health. "We have reached almost two thousand infected people a day. If we reach a thousand critically ill patients, the event will change dramatically, the health system will collapse and we will not be able to save lives.

He added: "We will allow restaurants to be opened in open areas only, and restaurateurs can live with them despite the hardship. About 80 percent of restaurants can open that way. Data from the Ministry of Health on the source of infection are not absolute - "Character is a danger of infection. We will examine new methods and conditions for opening gyms."

Prof. Itamar Grotto, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health, who was present at the Knesset debate, said: "In the last day, there have been fifty-five critically ill patients. The assessment of the situation that took place this morning indicates that we have passed the 300-patient threshold. "

At the end of a four-hour discussion last night, members of the committee headed by MK Yifat Shasha-Biton refrained from approving or revoking these government decisions, and asked the government to make changes to the restraining orders. 

Among the changes requested: leaving the public pools open; Allowing the public to stay on the beaches indefinitely, leaving the restaurants open in a 35% format inside and keeping the "purple character" rules outside, excluding gyms (diluting the number of people in them at any given moment), tourist attractions in Eilat and safaris in Ramat Gan.

Throughout the discussion yesterday, the prime minister's threat on Saturday night hovered, to oust Shasha-Biton (Likud) from chairing the committee, due to its refusal to approve the restrictions in the previous round and leave the gyms and restaurants open. 

At the opening of the meeting, the chairman referred to this indirectly. “We are all on the same side, but we are also allowed to argue and disagree and examine things. We must examine the extent of the economic harm versus the medical benefit, the psychological and social harm versus the medical benefit. Make sure not to spill the baby with the water. The question is how to open the economy and maintain a routine of life and not impose a closure on all citizens. "

The Deputy Attorney General, Adv. Raz Nazri, backed Shasha-Biton, noting that "the Knesset has the authority not to approve government decisions and each of the authorities is doing its part."

More than 50,000 carriers

The Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Itamar Grotto, stressed that he was concerned about the situation. "Even if we announce an immediate closure - those who managed to be infected will appear in severe blue in just two weeks, and in increasing numbers," he said. The ability to open branches is a result of low morbidity. In rising morbidity - it is not possible to open. " 

Last week, the committee's chairman, MK Yifat Shasha-Bitton, supported the repeal of some of the restrictions imposed by the government, contrary to the government's position, in the field of gyms and pools, which caused a stir within the coalition.