Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein agreed Monday that schools will resume classroom learning for grades 7 to 10 starting next Sunday.
The decision goes against an earlier agreement reached by Netanyahu with Education Minister Yoav Galant which asked the children to return to school as early as Tuesday.
Education Minister Yoav Galant, who had not been told about the policy change, said earlier on Monday that the government would call as early as Tuesday to consider postponing school education in “green” cities and “Yellow” – communities with relatively low levels of coronavirus infection.
“I hope and believe that the government will take office today that schools should reopen immediately,” Galant said.
Health Minister Edelstein said the decision was made after factor R, which signals the spread of coronavirus in the population, rose to 1, after standing at 0.79 just two weeks ago.
The government was due to call on Monday to discuss the next phase of economic reopening, which is to include restaurants, cafes and event halls.
The government was also about to decide whether to abolish the Freedom Committee, the body charged with overseeing and approving requests for entry or exit of Israel.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein at a vaccination clinic in Jerusalem
Another issue on the agenda was whether they should eliminate compulsory loneliness at state-run hotels to all those who entered Israel from abroad and opt for Them at home.
Ministry of Health officials said they oppose such a decision, saying it would allow future coronavirus changes and jeopardize the effectiveness of the vaccines.