The Corona Cabinet convened today (Wednesday) in the face of rising morbidity figures, including more than 3,000 verified patients diagnosed in the past three days. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Bnei Gantz decided at the end of the debate to impose a general closure on Israel starting Sunday at 5:00 PM for two weeks. It was also decided that the education system for kindergartens, grades 1-4 and 11-12 will be excluded, that a traffic limit of up to 1,000 meters will be applied and trade will be closed except for shipments.
In view of the extent of the illness, the Ministry of Health earlier proposed the imposition of a general closure from Sunday for 25 days, a ban on staying in another person’s residence, the imposition of a traffic limit per kilometer, allowing gatherings on the order of 10 people in an enclosed area and 20 in an open area. With the exception of vital places, complete closure of the education system with the exception of special education and exceptions, maximum reduction of going out to work and reduction of public transportation to 50%.
At the beginning of the debate, the Prime Minister said Benjamin Netanyahu “There is a big wave of morbidity in the world and the death toll is very high, but we also have a very sharp increase in morbidity. If we do not act quickly, we will pay high prices in both health and the economy. Speed is critical. The disease doubles itself and the rate of vaccines does not double itselfHe added: “Our ability to curb the disease and get out of it is probably the best in the world. “If we take the right steps and the right speed, as we did in the first and second wave when we advanced the world, and at the same time we will continue to vaccinate at the fastest pace in the world – we will emerge first among the nations.”
After him, the head of the National Security Council commented Meir Ben Shabbat The increase in the number of patients with the virus said that “we decided not to impose restrictions on Hanukkah and set goals from which we would have to take steps, but since the illness has risen and crossed all parameters. Death. “
Prof. Ash said at the meeting that “This should be the last closure until the onset of the vaccine effectHe explained: “There is an increase in the number of patients whose condition is mild – something that puts a strain on the HMOs. They have to manage the vaccination campaign and it’s the same manpower. The burden on the box office is very large. I hope it does not hurt the vaccination campaign. “The defense minister Bnei Gantz, Expressed his opposition to the immediate application of the closure and said: “This country is not PZZTA“We need time to get organized for the public.”
Ash added: “Partial opening of the education system is expected to extend the closure from 25 days to 49 daysHowever, he estimated that we could reach several million vaccinated in two months.
Corona projector Prof. Nachman Ash in the village of Reina (Photo: Mazawi Advertisers, Ministry of Health Information Office)
The Minister Eli Cohen He said during the hearing that action should be taken to ensure that the vaccine system works 24 hours a day, instead of 12 hours as it is today. According to him, “there is support for the move and the director general of the Ministry of Health noted that they are working to recruit as many paramedics and medics as possible, including from the IDF.”
During the meeting, the Minister of Education Yoav Galant He left the yeshiva because he was asked to go into home isolation, as well as his office workers. This is after they were present last Monday in the vicinity of a person who was verified today as Corona Blue. It should be noted that the Minister had been vaccinated against the corona about 24 hours earlier, but the isolation was required according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.
Prof. Yinon AshkenaziThe Corona Cabinet Adviser claimed: “Part of the increase in morbidity is from synagogue gatherings. Aryeh Deri He replied: “Only a short time ago, the ultra-Orthodox for a long time had the lowest infection rate and all this when the synagogues were open. It is impossible to determine that gatherings of ten people in a synagogue are the reason for the increase in morbidity.”
Between the Minister of Transport Miri Regev And Prof. Ash was embroiled in a debate over the number of vaccinated, when a moment claimed “50% of the population does not want to be vaccinated, because the side effects are discovered only after the second vaccination,” when Ash contradicted her and said: “We do not know such a number“There is a high demand and long queues, most people say they have not decided yet, and it is not true that the symptoms are only discovered after the second vaccine.”
“Only together will we win and I am sure together we will win. Arab society has declined in morbidity and ultra-Orthodox society has risen – which at the beginning of the month was lower. The share of patients from red areas is a third of the population. 13% of morbidity in green localities and most in yellow localities. .
Earlier, the Ministry of Health announced its intention to demand the complete and immediate closure. The explanation for this lies in the high morbidity data, and the argument is that tight restraint will not be able to resolve the situation and may even significantly extend the period of time in which restrictions will be needed. It is estimated that in order to significantly reduce the coefficient of infection, at least three weeks of complete closure will be required, or alternatively six weeks of tightened restraint.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein instructed the director general of his office, Prof. Hezi Levy, to take action to ensure that the hospitals vaccinated the population, in addition to the health funds, as early as next week.