With less than a day before Israel becomes the first Western nation to impose a second nations lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein urged the public to adhere his ministry's directives, saying that "without the public we [the government] cannot succeed" in the fight against COVID-19.
Israel has so far recorded 172,322 corona cases, including 1,163 deaths. There are currently 45,488 active patients, of whom 579 are in serious condition. So far, 125,671 Israelis have recovered from the disease.
Edelstein said that morbidity data will determine whether the lockdown, currently set to begin on Friday afternoon and be in effect for three weeks, is cut short or extended.
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"The public must understand that we are currently in a war for civil peace," Edelstein said, urging all sectors of society to cease asking what is and isn't allowed "and instead ask themselves, 'What can I do so we will see a drop in infection rate?'"
Edelstein argued that the spike in infection rates was largely due to the beginning of the school year and claimed he had the data proving thousands of students and teachers throughout the country are sick.
This assertion contradicts the position of the Education Ministry.
He addressed the push back against the 500 meters (yards) restriction, which medical experts have said has no epidemiological value, saying that he agreed, "but there is a very clear logic in this guideline and I call on everyone to observe it."
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