The government was set to extend Israel's tightened third lockdown by another week in an effort to contend with high morbidity rates, Sunday.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Ahead of the move, the Knesset will approve an increase in fines for violations of coronavirus guidelines, a condition set by the Blue and White party for the extension of the lockdown.
The maximum fine for violating coronavirus guidelines will be raised from 5,000 to 10,000 shekels [around $3,000].
Despite a third national lockdown, Israel's morbidity rate remains high, with 2,597 of the 26,945 coronavirus tests carried out yesterday found to be positive, for an infection rate of 10%, according to Health Ministry data. Israel currently has 69,397 active cases of the virus, 1,204 of which are serious. Of those in serious condition, 310 are on ventilators. So far, 4,768 people in Israel have died. The youngest victim, a two-month-old infant with heart problems, succumbed to the virus at Jerusalem's Hadassah Medical Center, Saturday.
Over 3 million Israelis have received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine. Over 1.7 million people have received a second jab.
The Health Ministry is expected to recommend government ministers extend the lockdown by a minimum of another week. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to support the move. In addition, ministers will vote on a two-week extension of the closure of Ben Gurion Airport and consolidate a framework for bringing thousands of Israelis stuck overseas as a result of the closure back into the country.
Blue and White has also conditioned its support for an extension of the lockdown on a government plan that would see a differential exit from the lockdown according to the morbidity rate in various communities. In addition, the party will demand increased enforcement and propose an easing of certain restrictions in localities where infection rates are low.
Meanwhile, the head of the Health Ministry's Public Services department Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis told Channel 12 News Israel's education system would reopen in designated green localities "in another week."
Citing the Health Ministry's "traffic light" system of determining public health restrictions for local authorities based on the number of new coronavirus cases and percentage of positive test results, Alroy-Preis said, "There is no point in allowing commerce in green areas so that people from red areas can go there."
She said that "what we can do is open sectors that operate in a geographical area, such as education."
"In another week, we want there to be more green cities. If we open schools now, only 5% of cities are green," she said.
Coronavirus chief Nachman Ash told Israel Hayom, "This is a week in which we expect to see a decrease in the number of seriously ill patients, and that is critical for the possibility of opening the market the week after. It's important the public understand they must make an effort to adhere to the guidelines for this forecast to be realized."'
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
