Edelstein: “Incomplete closure – like a vaccine in one dose”

He said that In the Corona cabinet, the Ministry of Health will require a full closure for two weeks: “Everything else is like a vaccine in one dose. People get confused and do not understand what is open, what to do and what not to do. This disease should be given one strong blow and together set out on a new path.”

Regarding the education system, the Minister of Health said: “In our original proposals we left part of it open, we wanted to help teenagers who are finishing 11th-12th and have a matriculation. In the current situation of morbidity there is no place for open schools and I tell you – look at the trend.” Added the Minister of Health. “The biggest fighters against the closure of the schools were the heads of the authorities. Yesterday I received dozens of inquiries from them, they said to me ‘Mr. Minister, you have fallen asleep on guard’.”

Indeed, the mayor of Ramat Gan Shama Hacohen announced today that from tomorrow the municipal education system will move to a limited activity following a significant increase in the educational institutions in the city. In a statement, he stated that Emma Hacohen said that kindergartens, special education, grades 1-4 and 11-12 will continue their studies as usual, while students in grades 5-7 and 9-10 will move on to distance learning.

“We chose to anticipate a cure for Mecca,” the mayor of Ramat Gan explained. “Personally, our daughter Mia, who is in fourth grade, will make every effort to allow her to send her to school as little as possible until the rage passes.” Shama HaCohen noted that in the current wave in Ramat Gan, morbidity between the ages of 0-9 is responsible for 15% of the general morbidity in the city, while those aged 10-19 are responsible for 10% of the morbidity.

The municipal opposition was furious at the closure of the classrooms, claimed it was not within the mayor’s authority and said they intended to contact the Ministry of Education. “This is another delusional decision of a detached city administration,” said city opposition member Hagai Asher. “Instead of engaging in corona enforcement in the city, they are involved in the production of spin. The mess created in the schools this morning is not told to you. In a reformed city, the city administration would hold a dialogue with the municipal parent leadership and they would make the decision together.”

As mentioned, yesterday the mayor of Bat Yam, Zvika Brut, announced the closure of fifth through tenth grades in the city’s education system, starting on Monday. This is also Shabbat Yam – like Ramat Gan – is a yellow city, a city that, in contrast to red and orange localities, whose students in fifth through twelfth grades are supposed to study in schools.

“There are hundreds of sick or isolated students in the city. Right now, when Bat Yam is one of the leading cities in the number of vaccinated, it is important that we continue to do everything to preserve life and prevent disease both among children and the adult public in the city,” he said.

Meanwhile, after a situation assessment with the defense minister and senior members of the Corona cabinet, Science Minister Yizhar Shai said that “It’s too early to announce a full closure, we have time. We have not yet received answers regarding the availability of vaccines and we have not yet seen the implications of recent restrictions on morbidity. We should not be caught up in decisions that are too quick, and we must not recklessly sacrifice the activities of the education system. ”

Shai believes that one should wait until Wednesday or Thursday for decisions, then it will be 10 days since the closure begins.

“According to forecasts, the number of verified people is expected to rise to 7,000-8,000 by Wednesday, and this will determine whether this trend continues,” he said. “Of patients in this condition – which is a real indication of the disease. If this trend continues, it means that we have reached a curb in the number of patients whose condition is severe and moderate, and this indicates that the health system is not in danger of collapse.”

He said if the current trend continues, Blue and White would oppose a full closure and offer an alternative to lowering crowds. Regarding the possibility of closing the education system at this stage, he said: “If God forbid we reach this situation, we will in no way agree to selective enforcement. It will be a complete closure of the entire education system in all sectors. This decree will not fall on one public, it will not happen again.”