Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene a digital cabinet meeting on Sunday, where the ministers will debate imposing further restrictions on the public and the economy in an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus in Israel.
The Health Ministry said Saturday that 12 people have so far died of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. There are currently 3,619 confirmed corona cases in Israel, with 54 patients in serious condition.
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Over 65,000 Israelis are under home quarantine, with the rest of the country under strict limitations with respect to movement and economic activity.
Barring an unexpected change in morbidity and mortality rates, Health Ministry officials are expected to present the cabinet with data suggesting contagion is slowing down, but Netanyahu is still convinced further measures are necessary to maintain the advantage and, eventually, completely eradicate the pandemic.
"You have to remember that the numbers you see now are the result of the steps taken two weeks ago," a source at the Prime Minister's Office told Israel Hayom. "These were very difficult steps with a huge economic and social price, but they proved themselves and the prime minister does not regret them.
"Now, we're again facing a situation by which lifting the restrictions would be an irreparable mistake. He [Netanyahu] is inclined to impose stricter restrictions for a little longer because we'd rather be overcautious than underprepared."
The cabinet is also slated to discuss an economic aid package amounting to 5 billion shekels ($1.4 billion) for small- and medium-sized businesses.
The aid package comes as Health Ministry officials are pushing to further reduce economic activity, from 30% to 20%, but the Treasury has warned that a move so severe could spell an economic crisis.
According to Channel 12 News, Finance Ministry officials have clashed with officials from the Health Ministry who have for weeks advocated the strictest of measures, saying that the economic slowdown means that if the coronavirus crisis escalates, the budget may not allow for further aid.
Meanwhile, the Israel Police is set to begin to aggressively enforce the current curfew measures starting on Sunday. On Saturday, Channel 12 News said the police gave out1,000 fines to people found violating the directives.
The IDF said last week that some 500 soldiers will be deployed nationwide to assist police in enforcing the restrictions on movement.
