Israel had planned to crack down on a new coronavirus lock from next week at a government meeting Wednesday following the latest rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Ministers will call at 2pm, just hours after the government collapsed as coalition members failed to spend the state budget before midnight, leading to snap elections that was to be held on 23 March.
Police officers in Tel Aviv in the first lock
(Photo: AP)
At the government meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to call for another national lockout lasting two or three weeks, which would include a complete closure of trade and the education system.
Although ministers have not set a specific date, the lockout is expected to begin sometime next week in a bid to give the public time to prepare.
Ministry of Health officials believe there will be widespread opposition to the proposal because of damage that could cause further lock-ups to certain sectors of the economy as well as a tense feeling that would be expected at the meeting as a result of the new elections.
A center in Netanya opened amid a pandemic
(Photo: Lihi Krupnik )
The ministry is predicting the longer the lockout will be implemented, the longer it will have to stay in place, believing it must continue until the country reaches a greater level. less than 1,000 new virus cases daily. However, some senior ministers in the ministry believe the lockout could be avoided due to the rapid progress of the vaccination campaign among the elderly.
On Tuesday, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said Israel is engaged in a “third wave of coronavirus infection” and has no choice but to enter another nationwide lockout.
“We have missed the train with a strict restriction and no escape from a lock,” he said on a visit to a supported accommodation facility which was rolling out the vaccination program to tenants. between two and three months to get the vaccine [program] to produce. ”