Prof. Ash: The data are getting better, but as we open up the economy

Another confrontation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Bnei Gantz in the cabinet – and again a warning of irresponsible opening of trade. Corona’s professor Prof. Nachman Ash warned today (Monday) in a cabinet discussion that despite the high vaccination rate, Israel has not yet reached herd immunity – and morbidity figures may rise significantly when the economy is fully opened.

According to Prof. Ash, “there are more than 5,000 patients a day. We stand at about a thousand critically ill patients. If two months ago someone had said that in today’s situation we would open the economy, I would say he is crazy. But we open because we see the importance.” He added: “The data is improving but as the economy opens up it will go up again and it will be very bad. An irresponsible opening will lead to another closure. Is it good for the economy or education? Next week we will reach three million vaccinated, but it is only a third. It is not herd immunity. It should be done in a real way and not be blinded by the data that is improving. “

According to Prof. Ash, starting a business based on the green label is “problematic” because children up to the age of 16 are not allowed to get vaccinated yet. “It may be possible to put children in certain places subject to tests, and I hope we will move on to speed tests. The best solution would be speed tests at the entrance to any business,” he said.

During the discussion, the projector presented an outline of restrictions for the holiday of Purim next week, in order to prevent mass infection during it. According to the outline, parties, Adlaide processions and multi-participant events will be banned during the holiday. There will also be a ban on the travel of “happy trucks”.

Prof. Ash also suggests that holiday meals be held only in a nuclear-family setting, and in synagogues it will be possible to pray in capsules of up to ten people and with rigid partitions between the capsules. The maximum number of worshipers in the synagogues according to the outline will be 100 people, including this coming Saturday. He also proposed closing the Rashbi tomb on Mount Meron.

At the beginning of the discussion, after Minister of Tourism Orit Farkash HaCohen from White Brush called for a wide opening of trade, Netanyahu objected and replied: “We do not have a safety margin, because we are close to a thousand seriously ill. We must open carefully. But you are stopping her. ” Ganz replied: “We are not stopping an economic plan – we are stopping an election bribe.”

Minister Katz told Gantz: “Just as we cannot stop health decisions, it is impossible to stop helping citizens.” Ganz replied: “You and the prime minister have decided to take the discussion on the economic issue.”

The Minister of Internal Security, Amir Ohana, warned at the hearing about the revelry that is expected on Mount Meron on 7 Adar – Thursday – and said that the top police officers had warned him that about 40,000 people would come to the place. He demanded a closure order for the place and claimed that “the police can only stop the buses”. Prof. Ash added that he had already requested that a closure order be issued for the place.

Deri also scoffed at the opening of the store: “Next week we will open with the green sign – but it is clear that in a Jewish state the synagogues will not open either. I hope the Ministry of Health will bring the solution, it is inconceivable that everything opens except prayer houses. “Seriously, the possibility of getting married must be increased. Stadiums and games are being opened – but weddings are not? Why a mall yes and a wedding no?”

Deri then asked to see to it that agreements were reached as early as this coming Shabbat, in which the Parshas Zachor is read. Netanyahu said that if the weather is good, prayers can be held outside – but the problem will be if the weather is stormy.

Economy Minister Amir Peretz raised in the cabinet a proposal for a “rechargeable green card,” which will be implemented in cooperation with credit companies and banks. “Everyone is interested. The card will give an incentive to get vaccinated and will lead to increased consumption. It will be limited to two years so as not to compete with consumer clubs, prevent counterfeiting and go digital.” Peretz also raised the issue of the tax deduction for businesses, claiming that the process is stuck in the tax authority. After the exchange of accusations, he, Deri and Katz agreed to advance the issue.

Minister Farkash HaCohen demanded a new outline regarding domestic tourism in Eilat and the Dead Sea, after the places were declared green.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Yoav Galant called for the reopening of educational institutions in green and yellow cities for all age groups – and to do so before any other opening. He said, “Last week we stopped and checked our data and assessments. I can say with full responsibility that given the current morbidity data and according to the experts’ recommendations, we have reached a point that allows educational institutions to be fully opened, for all ages, in green and yellow cities. One at home in these cities. “

However, the Ministry of Health disagrees with its ruling. The head of the public health services, Dr. Sharon Elrai Price, even scolded and said that “if we had not been constantly preoccupied with saying that schools have nothing to do with illness, we would have found solutions.”

Prof. Ash replied to Galant that “I will not enter into a debate on the data because it is history. We have a new player, the British mutation, and I quote the Minister of Education here – ‘We have a problem with our database in the behavior of the mutation’. I recommend the opening be gradual like We offered, let’s see how the opening we have already done goes and from there we will continue. ”

According to Dr. Elrai Price, “It is important to know that there are differences in morbidity rates at different ages. When we reach a closure, it is not because of morbidity in the ultra-Orthodox sector, but because of excess morbidity throughout the State of Israel. It is also seen in childhood morbidity. Only when the schools closed did the morbidity of the children decrease. To say that there is no connection between the schools and the morbidity of the children is not true. “

Galant also called for the partial opening of studies in the orange cities. He said, “To the best of my judgment, the conditions for the decision I have just recommended are ripe – and it must be made before decisions are made on other concessions.” Minister Deri reinforced his remarks.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Regional Cooperation today transfers the responsibility for the Exceptions Committee to the Ministry of Transport. Until the transfer of the stick, which will continue in the coming hours, the committee will be disabled.

Participated in the preparation of the article: Itai Blumenthal