The Israeli government on Sunday night decided on a series of new measures to continue easing emergency restrictions imposed to combat the spread of the coronavirus, including the closure of specially converted hotels where infected citizens have been quarantined,
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett addressed the decision on Twitter and thanked the IDF's Home Front Command for operating the hotels.
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"Wonderful tidings for people returning from abroad: From now on anyone returning from abroad will be allowed to effectively self-quarantine at home for a period of 14 days, and won't have to stay at the quarantine hotels. Thank you to the soldiers of the Home Front Command for their excellent management of the hotels," he wrote.
The National Security Council made the recommendation to close the hotels last week. Instead, people entering the country will be permitted to self-quarantine at home if they demonstrate the ability to do so, and agree to police oversight. Additionally, those who are currently quarantined at one of the specially converted hotels will be allowed to opt for home isolation.
Furthermore, people returning from abroad will be prohibited from using public transportation to return to their homes, and will instead need to travel via taxi while wearing protective masks and drive with open windows.
As for the actual process at the airport upon arrival, the task of enforcing the new guidelines will be divided between the Defense Ministry, Health Ministry and the Israel Airports Authority, while police officers will be responsible for supervising and aiding the various authorities throughout the entry process.
The government also decided to reopen public parks and to permit the use of public exercise equipment, despite objections from Environmental Protection Minister Ze'ev Elkin, who said the government should have waited until the end of the month. Amusement parks will remain closed.
Meanwhile, the IDF on Sunday said it will grant a one-time bonus of NIS 4,000 to lone soldiers who were discharged in the past year.
The decision was made to help lone soldiers who have "fallen between the chairs" due to the bleak job market caused by the coronavirus pandemic and because they are ineligible to claim unemployment.
In addition, discharged lone soldiers, who don't have the support of their immediate families, are now also allowed to claim their entire military saving deposits for any purpose, instead of having to wait the customary five years and only for specific purposes.
