This morning at 05:00, the order restricting their activity came into force, but the Corona Commission may revoke it and allow for a limited format opening.
Will a final decision be made today regarding the opening of the restaurants? The Corona Committee is convening at this time (Tuesday) for a further discussion on the conditions for operating the restaurants in the shadow of the Corona restrictions. This morning at 05:00, the order restricting the activity of cafes and restaurants came into force, but throughout the country, many restaurateurs have already announced that they will continue to open their businesses as usual - in protest of the government's conduct in their case.
The committee's chairman, MK Yifat Shasha-Bitton (all of us in the Likud), spoke about the nightly negotiations that failed with the Ministry of Health, without a summary outline for opening the restaurants. We asked for an opening inside the restaurants for 35-25 percent of the occupancy. I agreed to give it up for a while, but they insisted on 50 people out there. I do not know how to explain this insistence to the public and restaurateurs. We need guidelines for the public to understand, because the public is our main partner in the war against the virus. "
Coalition chairman MK Miki Zohar (Likud) made it clear that the government is interested in a solution to prevent economic damage to restaurants, "but this morning data reached 1,800 infected in the last day. The opposition is willing to endanger public health, only to undermine the stability of the government." "It drags the committee, irresponsibly, into bad districts. The committee chairman's intention is good, but the government's compromise proposal to open restaurants outside only, and up to 50 people only, is balanced."
MK Zohar called for approving these restrictions, and negotiating an outline for opening the gyms, and asked Chairman Shasha-Bitton not to vote with the opposition.
MK Miki Levy (Yesh Atid-TLAM) protests why the toddlers' pool in the swimming pools is still closed, MK Yoel Rezbozov (Yesh Atid-TLAM) defined the committee as "the last stronghold of Israeli democracy", and MK Merav Michaeli (Labor) called on restaurants to maintain the rules of distance. MK Jaber Asakla (joint list) proposed to reject the entire order and not just exclude restaurants, MK Hila Shi-Wazan (blue and white) called for cooperation with the ministry Health to prevent damage to the compensation scheme of restaurateurs.
• Confusion and uncertainty: The order to close the restaurants came into force
• The meeting of the restaurateurs and the Prime Minister ended without results
• Refuse to close and take to the streets: the restaurateurs' protest
• Outline to outline: Minister Edelstein is expected to present a new plan for opening restaurants
• Restaurants will be able to operate on public space
Yaki Kabir, owners of Serpina and TYO in Tel Aviv, told Israel Today that the government is in a panic. The prime minister said that they are doing a 'health accordion' but forgot to announce a 'mental accordion' or 'economic accordion'. There are people behind the numbers. Health. "The public is important, but so is manual labor and mental health. Work causes the economy to shift and does not cause it to collapse and fall, reset yourself and help us. There are people and families who are harmed by all this conduct."
The Corona Committee, which also discussed the positions and needs of restaurateurs during its deliberations, put forward proposals for the partial opening of restaurants while maintaining the conditions of the "purple character" and the rules of social distance. Last night it was reported that Health Minister Yuli Edelstein had formulated an outline that would allow restaurants to serve up to 50 people outside, with indoor seating banned.
In order to allow restaurant and cafe owners to continue their activities alongside restrictions to prevent the spread of the corona, the municipalities of Tel Aviv and Rishon Lezion announced yesterday that restaurateurs will also be able to place tables in public areas.
The restaurateurs' protest last week // Photo: Gil Kramer
In June and July, the Tel Aviv Municipality allowed more than 400 businesses to expand their serving space in the public space, against the background of the "purple character" requirements, to a distance of two meters between tables. Yesterday, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai said: "We will allow tables and chairs to be taken out into the public space, beyond what has been acceptable so far. At this time, everything must be done to help businesses."
Rishon Lezion Mayor Raz Kinstlich stated: "In the days when restaurant and cafe owners are facing an economic crisis on the one hand and confusing instructions regarding their opening on the other, the Rishon Lezion municipality will use the tools at its disposal to help them."
264 critically ill patients
Meanwhile, the Corona National Information and Knowledge Center updated this morning that there are 29,645 active patients in Israel, 264 of them in critical condition. Yesterday (between midnight and midnight) 1,844 new infections were diagnosed. The percentage of positive tests is the highest in the last two weeks - 8.1%. On the other hand, 22,432 recovered. According to the Information Center report, 416 corona patients have so far died across the country.
The report also presents the localities that have been defined as risk centers, and among the leaders is Jerusalem, where there are 4,370 active patients. In Bnei Brak, 2,230 active patients were reported, in Tel Aviv-Yafo - 1,993, in Ashdod - 1,091, in Beitar Illit - 1,032, and in Beit Shemesh - 736.
For the full report
Participated in the preparation of the article: Meital Yasur Beit-Or
