Israel Releases Lockdown, Opens Malls, Markets And Kindergartens

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — In a press conference convened Monday night, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu mapped out Israel’s strategy for returning to economic and social life during the present period.  Netanyahu mentioned that nobody can determine what the future will hold and whether there will be another outbreak of COVID-19 before a vaccine is discovered and therefore the strategy is liable to change at any time.

Netanyahu delineated the parameters which would determine if the easing of the lockdown could remain in place, citing the analogy of a plane flight in which warning lights turn on when there are problems. Similarly, as long as new cases remain below 100 per day and the rate of infection remains low, Israelis can continue their normal activities while maintaining three cardinal rules: 1) social distancing 2) proper hygiene 3) facemasks. However if the rate of infection, number of cases or number of seriously ill people rises above a certain level, some restrictions will have to be reinstalled.

Netanyahu stated  that all restrictions on movement would now be removed and people would be allowed to visit first-degree relatives, although he warned against hugging and kissing elderly relatives. He added that malls and open markets will be reopened Thursday under certain restrictions and kindergartens will resume Sunday while maintaining small groups within the classrooms. Weddings will be permitted on Lag Ba’Omer for up to 50 people in outdoor settings and in a few weeks other social gatherings will be permitted for up to 50 people together but without any dancing or physical contact between people at the affairs.