Tomorrow, senior officials of the Ministry of Health will present the Corona Cabinet with some outlines for restrictions • The easiest alternative offers closure only during the holidays • The strict alternative - closure throughout the holiday season • It seems that Israel is on the way to a dramatic tightening of restrictions • All details
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, the director general of his office, Prof. Hezi Levy, and the Corona commissioner, Prof. Roni Gamzo, will present to the Corona Cabinet tomorrow (Thursday) a number of outlines for severe restrictions that will be imposed throughout the country during the holidays.
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The options for restrictions, which were presented today to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will probably include a curfew throughout the country on the eve of the holidays and the holidays themselves, and until a permanent closure for the entire holiday period.
Edelstein and Levy support the more restrictive alternatives.
A moderate alternative that has been formulated has been dubbed a “tightened traffic light,” and it includes a curfew on the eve of the holiday and on the holidays themselves.
According to this proposal, first- to fourth-grade studies will be allowed throughout the period in cities that are not defined as "red," and places of entertainment will be opened under restrictions on gatherings.
The public sector will work in an emergency format in all outlines, jobs without public reception will also remain open, and prayers will be possible according to a "red" outline (10 worshipers inside the chapels and 20 outside) or "orange" (20 inside and 50 outside).
Another alternative that has been proposed is called "measured restraint", and it also includes a curfew on the eve of the holidays and on holidays throughout the country, along with a "night curfew" starting at 5:00 PM on restaurants and places of leisure and entertainment.
Gatherings and prayers will be allowed according to the restrictions of "red" cities.
A proposal for an additional outline was called "tightened restraint," which includes a closure on the eve of the holidays and on the holidays themselves, along with the opening of classes for first- and fourth-graders in cities that are not "red."
Under this outline, restaurants, leisure and entertainment venues will be closed.
The most difficult alternative is that of permanent closure throughout the country for the entire holiday period, including a total ban on gatherings and the closure of the education system, as well as businesses, places of entertainment, restaurants and tourism.
According to a source in the Ministry of Health, "the starting point is that in our country it is not possible to walk between the drops and uniform restrictions are needed."
The source added that "the nocturnal closures also do not work enough because there is no enforcement. The message that came up in the conversation with the hospital managers was that the system is starting to be inadequate and that it is necessary to close as soon as possible to reduce the number of severe patients before winter."
It is expected that the corona cabinet meeting to be held tomorrow at noon will include many disagreements over the timing of the closure.
The heads of the Ministry of Health will discuss the plan once again before the discussion takes place.
The health system would have preferred to impose the closure in October, when at the end the Home Front Command system is expected to be ready.
However, economic ministers are expected to support the closure during the holiday season, when economic activity is lower.
Meanwhile, the health minister and the top of his office who went into isolation after being in contact with a verified patient were examined for corona and found negative.
However, they will continue the isolation period as required of them.
Earlier today, Prof. Gamzo referred to the study of health policy, saying that crisis management in the second wave was completely different from that of the first wave: "There is a constant attempt to lead a life with the corona and let people return to work. This is a period that can increase infection and require complex decisions "Before the holidays, we will make measured, tailor-made and smart decisions. We need to find a way to manage the situation wisely, along with the epidemiological complexity."
The corona commissioner, who is also in solitary confinement, said that his job "is the most compelling good there is in the State of Israel today. You do not give any gifts but only restrictions, and everyone has complaints. This is the most complex management job I have ever done."
