Almost all of the remaining lockdown measures in Israel were lifted on Sunday after the cabinet voted to tentatively approve a gradual return to normalcy.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a press conference that the several-week lockdown and other measures to contain the community spread of the novel coronavirus proved to be a "major success."
He touted Israel's relatively low death rate compared to other developed countries, showing charts in which Israel's daily fatalities from COVID-19 – the disease caused by the virus – dropped substantially as a result of the lockdown and that Israel's overall death rate per 100,000 people was very low, especially compared to Belgium, whose population mirrors Israel in many ways.
Netanyahu said that Israelis could now leave their homes for any reason, and not just for 328 feet. Israelis can also visit their older parents and grandparents, but not hug them.
Public gatherings are permitted in open spaces and with no more than 20 people. Weddings will also be capped at 50 people starting next week. Weddings would be limited to the actual religious ceremony rather than a dance party or something of that nature.
Virtually all other sectors of the economy will gradually return to normal operation in the coming days, albeit with severe crowd-control measures. Classes will also resume at universities in about a month, while malls, libraries, gyms are to reopen Thursday
But Netanyahu cautioned that "if we see red-light indicators flashing" Israeli authorities would have to reimpose the severe lockdown measures.
Netanyahu thanked Israelis and said that "without you, this would have never happened."
