The decision taken after PM consulted with ministers of defense, education and health will be presented to the cabinet for a vote; 'children's health and safety is paramount' Education Minister Galant says in post to parents
Prof. Nachman Ash says there is no perfect way to reopen schools in pandemic but Health Ministry will monitor infection rates; says vaccine drive to get new push after drop in hospitalization among over-60s, the first sector to be widely inoculated
Health czar briefs on lockdown, warns of a slippery slope
Prof. Hezi Levy warns infections could reach 9,000 a day before mid-January, alongside 800 serious patients if dramatic measures not implemented, says lockdown may be extended if daily cases do not drop under 1,000
Adir Yanko |
Published: 12.24.20 , 21:36
Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Hezi Levy delivered a briefing Thursday evening ahead of Israel’s third pandemic-induced lockdown as cases spiked nationwide and warned of a slippery slope. We know how difficult this is, but If we won t impose the lockdown we could reach 9,000 confirmed cases a day before the middle of January, and reach 800 seriously ill patients. Now is the time to stop this, prevent this slippery slope,” Levy said.
Two-week lockdown will not suffice, coronavirus czar says
Prof. Nachman Ash believes that extending of national closure will definitely need to happen ; shops and entertainment venues will be shuttered and movement from home will be restricted; schools will remain partially open for some grades
Itamar Eichner, Attila Somfalvi |
Updated: 12.24.20 , 09:48
Coronavirus czar Prof. Nachman Ash said on Thursday that the two-week coronavirus lockdown the government voted on Wednesday will not suffice in bringing national morbidity down. It was decided that after two weeks we will hold a general assessment and see if we need to keep extending it [the lockdown]. This will definitely need to happen, he told Ynet.
Israel to go into third coronavirus lockdown from Sunday
Rare joint statement from Netanyahu and Gantz says closure will last for at least two weeks and will include shuttering shops, entertainment venues and restricting movement from the home; schools will remain partially open for some grades
Itamar Eichner |
Published: 12.23.20 , 23:53
Israel will go into its third national lockdown on Sunday at 5pm to limit the soaring spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in a rare joint statement Wednesday.
The lockdown will last for two weeks, but will be extended for another two if the goal of less than 1,000 new infections per day is not met. The country has seen daily infections spiral to more than 3,000 and on Tuesday saw a 5.7% positivity rate.