Coronavirus cabinet approves stage 1 of exit strategy – full details

Less than one month after Israeli citizens were put under lockdown, the coronavirus cabinet ruled Thursday to begin lifting restrictions.

Beginning on Sunday, businesses that don’t serve customers, preschools for children ages newborn to six, nature reserves, national parks, beaches, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Temple Mount will open. At the same time, restaurants will be able to serve takeaway, the ban on traveling more than one kilometer from home will be lifted and people will be allowed to visit the homes of their extended family.

Finally, people will be able to gather in groups of 10 inside and 20 outside. 

The decision came against the backdrop of data from the Health Ministry that showed that Israel had nearly met the goals set by the Health Ministry to open up the economy. Some 2,009 people were infected with coronavirus on Wednesday, the ministry showed. Some 720 people were in serious condition, including 248 who were ventilated. The death toll rose to 2,121.

At the meeting, head of Public Health Services, Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis shared data that showed Israel now standards at an average of 2,400 new cases per day out of an average of 37,000 tests. The reproduction rate is around .63 Health Ministry data showed. 

The loosening of restrictions does not apply to red zones. A separate meeting about those areas will be held on Saturday night. 

At the meeting, the ministers discussed a proposal by Interior Minister Arye Deri (Shas) to allow up to 200 people to attend “Jewish lifecycle” events in capsules of 20 people. The dialogue escalated when MK Itzik Shmuli (Labor) told Deri that his plan would not work: “Have you ever seen a wedding in capsules? It won’t happen. And that was a serious source of the outbreak in the first wave,” Shmuli pressed.

Deri responded: “You probably don’t understand the meaning of marriage – the sanctification of Judaism.” Shmuli replied, “Do not underestimate my faith and I will not underestimate yours. I am no less a Jew.”

Shmuli told Deri that decisions could not be based on Judaism but only on epidemiological data.

Deri left the discussion in a huff. Sources said that he expected the prime minister to support his plan. 

Following the meeting, Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz reminded the public that “the coronavirus is still here and I ask each and every one of you to obey the regulations, be sure to wear a mask, social distance and maintain good hygiene. Israel’s morbidity is still high and hundreds of people lose their lives every week.”