At the end of long hours of discussions, the Corona Cabinet decided in favor of a partial return to school • Prime Minister Netanyahu clarified: "There is no budget for capsules in grades 1-2" • No decision has been reached on opening stores in stores • 50,000 tests a day
Back to school: The
Corona Cabinet confirmed tonight (Sunday) that grades one through four will return to school - as early as next week.
The outline for the gradual opening of schools to the lower grades was unanimously approved by the Corona Cabinet.
According to the outline, first and second graders will study in shifts - either two groups that will study week after week alternately, or two groups that will share half a week in a class and a half in distance learning.
In third and fourth grades, classes will be held in small group capsules.
Prime Minister Netanyahu at a cabinet meeting: "Partial return to studies is being considered" // Photo: GPO
Meanwhile, the ministers in the Corona cabinet are aiming to open both the daycare centers and the street shops in the first phase for relief in early November, but an outline acceptable to the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and the National Security Council has not yet been reached.
Earlier tonight, the Corona Cabinet confirmed that the existing restrictions in the economy due to the eruption of the second corona wave will be extended until next Sunday, November 1st.
Corona Commissioner Roni Gamzo warned the Corona Cabinet of a significant reduction in the number of inspections carried out every day, emphasizing that without an increase in the number of inspections, it would not be possible to continue easing the closure, according to a presentation to ministers.
"From the end of the closure - there has been a significant downward trend in the number of tests," Gamzo's presentation said.
"The problem lies in the lack of responsiveness and a desire on the part of the public to be tested. The national capacity now stands at about 70,000 tests per day, and is expected to continue to rise gradually ... The level of daily tests required to continue implementing the relief program - 50,000 (including surveys) The plan will continue as planned. "
In addition, the corona commissioner is considering offering an incentive in the form of shortening the isolation period from 14 to ten days only for those who come to be tested independently and are found positive.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred at the beginning of the cabinet meeting to the expected restrictions in the shadow of the decline in corona morbidity and said: "We discussed the opening of the school year on November 1. It may be partially open to first and second grades."
The Prime Minister later also noted that a "gradual opening of trade in a gradual manner" is being considered.
The Prime Minister said that last night, there was a preliminary discussion of the ministers regarding the opening of studies and trade.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said: "We held a preliminary discussion about the possibility of opening the school year on November 1.
"It may be partially open to first and second grades, and we are also talking about a partial opening of commerce, again, in a gradual, responsible manner, and of course it all depends on the level of morbidity."
PM Netanyahu: "They said we were on the way to a political tsunami - and the complete opposite happened" // Photo: GPO
Netanyahu stressed that the easing would be approved if the positive trend continues.
"The morbidity will go down, so the restrictions will also go down gradually. If the morbidity goes up, there will be no choice but to return the restrictions. I say this because everyone understands that it is necessary, because otherwise we will really get tragic results, which we are currently seeing in other countries, Europe. "As I told you it will happen. We are starting to get out of the quarantine restrictions before them, and they will probably go into many restrictions after us. But we want to get out successfully."
Regarding tourism, the Prime Minister said: "Today the government will approve special arrangements for the Dead Sea area and Eilat. There is a considerable volume of our tourism, we make special arrangements for them because they are remote, they are separated. This is a very important line for residents of these areas. And also to the citizens of Israel, who want to go to defined and safe places. "
The Prime Minister referred to the corona wave sweeping the world and said: “The world is being washed away by a very powerful wave and seeing it in Europe, it is heartbreaking.
There are very sharp rises there.
I know that the leaders there, with whom I speak, are seriously debating what decisions to make.
Many now understand that the decisions we made in the Corona Cabinet and in the government were the right ones, they led to a significant reduction and a dramatic reduction in the extent of morbidity in Israel.
"In order for this to last, we must persevere in a gradual and responsible exit, not open too fast, and I know how difficult it is."
The Prime Minister emphasized and testified that he himself "knows the difficulty that businesses have, I know the difficulty for the self-employed and I know the difficulty for families and parents. Therefore I ask first of all for your continued cooperation, which brought us to this result. Beyond that, I also ask for respect We will bring increased fines to the government today, so that everyone, without exception, across Israeli society, will respect the agreements. It is not directed against anyone - it is directed against the virus. Aiming for the health of us all. "