The government on Tuesday approved cutting the mandatory COVID quarantine period down to seven days. The decision came as Israel confirmed 754 new cases of the virus, in an apparent fourth resurgence of the pandemic in the Jewish state.
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Of the 5,172 active cases of the virus, 53 Israelis are in serious condition. Fifteen people are on ventilators. While 836,253 Israelis have recovered from the virus since the outset of the outbreak, 6,440 have died.
Current infection figures peg the infection rate is 1.45%.
According to the government's "stoplight" program for ranking local authorities according to infection rates, three Israeli cities are currently "red," five are "orange," and 28 localities are "yellow." The ranking spells out various restrictions on public life, especially with respect to public gatherings.
"With the aim of increasing public cooperation and public trust, the cabinet decided to allow those quarantining to get tested on the seventh day of their quarantine and wait for negative results, after which they can exit [quarantine]," Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said. "With that, we will increase enforcement of violations … People who exit [quarantine] without taking a test – the fine will stand at 5,000 shekels," which is about around $1500."
The cabinet also authorized increase enforcement of mask-wearing and transferred authority for enforcing coronavirus restrictions to the Public Security Ministry. The ministry announced it would establish a special coronavirus headquarters that would collect enforcement data from across the country and coordinate with various authorities.
Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev said, "This is an appropriate step to promote the efficient enforcement of violations in the public sphere, quarantine violations, and the correct enforcement of coronavirus guidelines."
Health Ministry officials proposed the green pass program be reinstated at indoor events with over 100 people in attendance, including restaurants and gyms, but excluding shopping malls and public transportation.
Health Ministry officials further requested cabinet members approve hundreds of slots for medical workers and additional funds in preparation for the reopening of hospital coronavirus wards.
The ministry also recommended less expensive at-home rapid coronavirus tests be offered at pharmacies and other stores. Such at-home testing has already been offered for schoolchildren in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, and France.
In his opening remarks at the meeting, Bennett emphasized three points for contending with the pandemic: Focusing on how to open things up instead of saying what needs to close, affording the public enough time to prepare for any future steps, and maintaining ties with the public and business owners, in particular, to better learn their needs.
With the more infectious Delta variant leading to a surge in infections, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has called for a policy of what he called "soft suppression." The government wants Israelis to learn to live with the virus - involving the fewest possible restrictions and avoiding a fourth national lockdown that could do further harm to the economy.
As most high-risk individuals have now been vaccinated against COVID-19, Bennett is counting on fewer people than before falling seriously ill when infections rise.
The main indicator guiding the move is the number of severe COVID-19 cases in hospitals. Implementation will entail monitoring infections, encouraging vaccinations, rapid testing, and information campaigns about face masks.
The strategy has drawn comparisons with the British government's plans to reopen England's economy from lockdown, though Israel is in the process of reinstating some curbs while London is lifting restrictions.
Bennett's strategy, like that of the British government, has been questioned by some scientists.
While the Health Ministry has advocated for a more aggressive approach, many other scientists are supportive.
"I am very much in favor of Israel's approach," said Nadav Davidovitch, director of Ben Gurion University of the Negev's School of Public Health, describing it as a "golden path" between Britain's easing of restrictions and tougher policies adopted by countries such as Australia.
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