Despite the growing fear that Hanukkah candle-lighting events will lead to a surge in coronavirus cases in Israel, the government decided Thursday to scrap the plan for a night-time curfew and opt for a new plan that could result in tighter restrictions later on.
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Under a new plan announced by the cabinet – and following a heated debate among ministers – instead of imposing new measures that would essentially confine Israelis to their own homes during the holiday's eight nights of celebrations, the government announced that Israelis would have to abide by the current restrictions, which prohibit large gatherings but would still allow small events to celebrate the Jewish holiday that begun Thursday night.
But the government said this could all change if there the large Hanukkah gatherings lead to a sudden spike in the COVID-19 community spread.
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said that if the reproduction rate of the virus – the number of people each person on average infects – rises to 1.32 or if the daily number of new cases reaches 2,500, a special "strict curtailment" would be introduced for three weeks. "If after this period we will get a reproduction rate that is is below 1, we will stop with the enforcement but if it stays high we will have to impose a lockdown."
The three-week "strict curtailment" period will see many businesses shut down – including malls and many schools. It will also require a ratcheting up of quarantine measures for those arriving from abroad.
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