With Israel on track to see an average of 2,500 new COVID cases per day within 10 days, reinstating a policy of rigorous restriction was unavoidable, corona commissioner Professor Nachman Ash told Israel Hayom on Wednesday.

Ash said that even though a nationwide vaccination campaign would begin immediately, Israel needed to be on alert.

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"It might be hard for the public to accept the restrictions. Some would say it doesn't make sense to declare rigorous restrictions as we are beginning to vaccinate, but when you analyze [the situation] based on the facts – we need to address the here and now even as the vaccination campaign gets underway, and be prepared to see the effects of the vaccine in another three months," Ash said.

The Corona cabinet has approved restrictive policies that will include closures of workplaces that deal with the general public and businesses. For now, tourism in approved "green islands" will continue, as well as certain businesses that take in one client at a time, such as hairdressers. Public schools in communities coded green and yellow under the Health Ministry's stoplight plan will remain open.

Ash said that a policy of rigorous restriction was not expected to pose a problem when it came to administering the vaccinations, which would continue even if the country went into full lockdown.

"In March-April we'll be living a saner life thanks to the vaccinations. I assess that we can drop the masks only when about 60% of the population is vaccinated around May or June, when the weather will be warmer," the corona commissioner added.

Q: How have we gotten ourselves into this situation?

"Because of a number of things. Trips abroad, failure to adhere to quarantine, weddings and [other] events. In addition, hundreds of COVID positive people are arriving from abroad. It's hard to say how that affects the rate of spread, but it could be a major factor. If there was absolute discipline when it came to following [public health] instructions, we wouldn't be in this situation."

According to Ash, data shows that many Israelis returning from abroad ignore the mandatory quarantine orders – with 45% self-quarantining as ordered and 55% violating the policy.

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"We are now launching an operation to keep better tabs on people in isolation, with help from the Defense Ministry and a program that provides support to local authorities. We will be visiting people in isolation at home," Ash said.

Q: Why hasn't the Health Ministry set a goal for the rate of vaccinations it wants to see, either in the population at large or in target groups (such as the elderly or medical workers)?

"We want to get to a 60% vaccination rate among people who can be vaccinated. It isn't a defined goal, but assessments are that this number will provide good herd immunity. Various surveys of medical workers who that 50% said they wanted to be vaccinated, but I expect that will change with time."

Meanwhile, the "green passport" plan – a benefit to be provided to recovered COVID-19 patients and Israelis who have received the COVID-19 vaccination – is expected to become operational in January. In its first stage, the green passport will allow holders entry into tourism islands in Eilat and the Dead Sea, and allow travelers from abroad to skip the mandatory quarantine. The green passport will be included in a new application from the Health Ministry. At a later date, officials will decide whether or not the passport will allow holders entry into cultural or sports events. For now, it appears that Israelis who want to attend cultural events or a sports match but decline the vaccine might be able to be tested for COVID in the days preceding the event.

"The dilemma is over places like shopping malls," Ash explains. "Because keeping them closed keeps out groups like kids or teenagers who can't get vaccinated. There is also a problem prioritizing resources for such a purpose."

When asked if the green passports will allow Israelis to hold weddings and other similar events, Ash responds, "Theoretically, yes, but we still haven't discussed it. If I'm getting married and busy rapid testing kits and take care to allow in only people who test negative or who have been vaccinated. But there would be limitations on the number of participants."

The post Corona chief: Life will be 'saner' by March appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

One proposal under discussion was the possibility of a night-time closure for red cities, towns, and local authorities that would be in effect from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. School would not take place in these communities.

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Ministers have been asked to approve the alternate framework after Netanyahu worked it out with Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and Haredi ministers Aryeh Deri and Yakov Litzman.

The letter to Netanyahu stated: "We have all faced difficult battles, at home and outside, to take various steps to remove [COVID] carriers from our cities, carry out as many tests as possible, maintain social distancing, and locate and shut down places with potential to cause outbreaks. We have changed the equation by significant percentages, through personal initiative and by rebuilding trust that has been eroded at the national level," the Haredi leaders wrote.

"As the person in charge of this crisis, you have never bothered to listen to us, to understand our distress or try to promote real initiatives to flatten the curve. You never gave us your ear or bothered to ask, understand, or study what characterizes a sizeable portion of the population in Israel," the leaders wrote.

"Time after time, you instated closure after closure on Haredi cities. They never bore fruit, otherwise, we would all support them and do everything in our power to implement them. Every such closure led to a breakdown of trust and a move backward in terms of [people's] willingness to contract the virus or uphold public health regulations. When the barricades came down, we found ourselves back at the starting point," they said.

"We inform you that the Haredi public will not forget the wrong done to us. We will not forget who signed off, time after time, labeling us as 'spreaders of disease' and enemies of the people, on selective punishment for so many families in the Haredi sector.

"The decisions you made were without reason or public health benefit and were aimed directed at the Haredi public. We see you as the only person responsible for these punitive steps, for the disrespect to tradition and our hone as legitimate citizens of this country. We cannot remain silent any longer," the letter stated.

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Prior to the government decision to revisit the planned lockdown, the Israel Police said it was preparing to handle "any scenario" once 30 cities, towns, and local authorities, as well as individual neighborhoods.

"The police is preparing for clashes in the Haredi sector, given the concern that large areas of the cities and towns to be shut down will not cooperate," police officials said Sunday.

"Ultimately, this is a decision made by the government. Citizens and local leaders are supposed to cooperate in order to reduce the spread of the virus. In cases of resistance, we will address every case individually. The commanders in the field have been instructed to hand any case of resistance off to the upper ranks, so they can be handled responsibly," the police said.

The Israel Police also noted that all of the police force's sub-districts had plans to enforce a full lockdown ready, and said that police were prepared to go into communities and patrol to ensure that there were no illegal gatherings or business activity in violation of regulations, and that residents were wearing masks and observing restrictions.

Members of the Transportation Police have been charged with enforcing restrictions on public transportation.

Starting Monday, the 3,000 police assigned to enforce coronavirus regulations will be backed up by 500 soldiers.

The post Haredi pressure prompts gov't to scrap lockdown plan appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Amikam and Appel saw couples getting married in micro-ceremonies, some of which included only the bride, groom, and an officiant. The couple decided that this was not the route for them. Instead, the couple went ahead and got married in front of 150 guests – via the Zoom video conferencing app.

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The ceremony included the chuppah (bridal canopy), the ceremony, and the traditional smashing of a glass, as well as a reception.

Bride Nofar said of her wedding: "Originally, we had planned a family wedding, but when the coronavirus broke out, we realized that we wouldn't be able to have an in-person wedding any time soon. We decided to organize a wedding quickly – before a total lockdown would be declared – and luckily our wedding planner from the 'Havaya' center, our families, and friends went along with the idea. We had a special, moving wedding."

Inbal Oren, deputy CEO of the Israel Hofshit-Be Free Israel movement, who manages the movement's Havaya center, said, "Even in the time of corona, under strict directives, couples are opting not to stop the surge that has taken place in Israeli celebrations in recent years. They are choosing to marry in creative ways, as their hearts see fit." 

The post Mazal tov! 150 guests log on to watch couple wed via videoconference   appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.