Today in the Corona Cabinet: Discussion of Raising Fines and Opening Classes | Israel today

PM Netanyahu supports Health Minister Edelstein in fight against violations in the ultra-Orthodox sector: "We will increase fines on educational institutions that will be opened" • The government is expected to approve: Schools will be allowed to conduct open-air activities

In view of the consistent decline in morbidity data: The

Corona Cabinet will convene today (Sunday) at noon to discuss the continued exit from the quarantine.

Following the line of relief announced about a week and a half ago, the issue of enforcement and fines will now also be at the center of discussions.

Photo: From Benjamin Netanyahu's Twitter account

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined Health Minister Yuli Edelstein's position over the weekend and expressed support for increasing the fines for violating the guidelines.

"I am going to take further steps against the violators of the guidelines, including heavy fines on educational institutions that are opened without a permit," Netanyahu said. "It is not for anyone, it is for something - against the virus, against the disease. I expect everyone's cooperation without leaving From the rule, "Netanyahu said.

The proposal to increase the fines was raised by Health Minister Edelstein, after it became clear that Torah studies and yeshivot were opened among the ultra-Orthodox sector in violation of the guidelines.

He explained that "there is a gap between the Corona Cabinet's cautious decisions and what is happening on the ground, of violating guidelines from educational institutions and businesses. Therefore, we will bring the Corona Cabinet a proposal to increase fines strictly."

According to Edelstein, "We will not allow a situation of the righteous and bad for him - and the others are good for them."

Photo: GPO

At the same time, another question that will come up today for discussion at the cabinet meeting: when will the lower grades in elementary schools also return to routine.

At issue is the return of first- and fourth-grade students, who are still studying remotely without any educational framework.

The Ministry of Health requires capsules in grades 1-2 - a matter that the Ministry of Education claims will cost about NIS 2 billion and will require at least five weeks of preparation - in which students will probably learn rotation and there will be no distance learning due to a shortage of teachers.

The biggest obstacle to capsules in grades 1-2 is the budget from the Ministry of Finance (2 billion).

On the other hand, third- and fourth-year students have been studying in capsules since the beginning of the school year, and it will be easier to return them to the classrooms.

Education activities are repeated

Last night, Education Minister Yoav Galant said: "We will do everything necessary to open the educational institutions in an outline that will be approved by the Ministry of Health and budgeted by the Ministry of Finance. The education and upbringing of Israeli children will continue to be our top priority for them and the future of Israel."

Discussions on how to return to school will resume soon.

The position of the Ministry of Education is sharp and clear: everything necessary to open the educational institutions will be done in an outline that will be approved by the Ministry of Health and budgeted by the Ministry of Finance.

The education of the children of Israel will continue to be at the top of our priorities, for them and for the future of Israel.

- Yoav Galant (@yoavgallant) October 24, 2020

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has announced that schools will be able to hold educational activities in the open.

Under the new regulations, schools will be able to hold activities in open spaces with certain restrictions, such as limiting the number of students in each group to nine.

Also, according to the regulations, the activity will be in permanent groups with permanent staff members, with no rotation of staff members or children between the groups, except for the rotation of permanent staff members between a maximum of three permanent groups.

Also, students will be wearing masks at all times, except for eating and drinking and sports activities, and will need to maintain a distance of two meters between one participant and another at all times, and the activity will not include contact between the participants.

It was also stated that the distance between one group and another will not be less than 100 meters.

Regulations will be brought for government approval today and then distributed to educational institutions.