Israel’s Corona Cabinet Enacts New Restrictions

Jerusalem, 3 August, 2021 (TPS) -- The special Corona Cabinet of the Israeli government convened today and declared a series of new restrictions. The new rules are being implemented to fight the current outbreak due to the Covid delta variant.

Among the new restrictions, there will now be a mask mandate even in open public spaces where there are 100 people or more gathered. The special green pass will be canceled for all children under the age of 12.

In addition, all public offices will be limited to having just 50% of their workforce come into the office. The private sector is being encouraged to have people return to working from home.

The government said that it is taking these steps to avoid having to implement another national shutdown. One is already being threatened for the upcoming fall holiday season.

The Ministry of Health revealed that another 2,052 Israelis were diagnosed as positive for Covid yesterday. The Ministry also stated that the rate of people testing was about 3.1% of all those tested. As of now, 433 corona patients are hospitalized across the country, 221 of whom are in critical condition. 47 patients connected to respirators.

There are 182 people aged 60 and over who are in critical condition, 134 of whom were vaccinated. But the current rate of infection for unvaccinated people over the age of 60 is 4.5 times higher than those who are vaccinated.

So far in August, over just 3 days, 18 people have already died due to Covid. In July there was a total of 51 deaths for the months and in all of June, there were only 8.

As of now 142,334 Israelis over the age of 60 have already received their third vaccination.

Israel’s Minister of Science, Technology and Space Orit Farkash-Hacohen puts the blame for the current situation on the shoulders of the people who refused to get vaccinated. The minister said that she has, “zero patience for those who do not get vaccinated and do not practice civic responsibility.”

“We got into this situation because of the unvaccinated, this is the position of all the experts who are now not only endangering themselves but also those who have been vaccinated,” added Hacohen.

“As far as I am concerned, we should immediately return to the previous green label in which those who have been vaccinated and not vaccinated do not enter. Only in this way will we overcome what is being said here – that a million people, including the youth, are not vaccinated. Purple, green, happy character, does not really work. There is a difficult problem, the public is tired. It is not like the previous waves.”

Minister of Defense Benny Gantz commented, “Corona wards in hospitals need to be strengthened in light of the expected increase in hospitalizations.”

Gantz also threatened a closure over the holidays saying, “The public must be prepared for the option of closing in September, which is a month in which the economic damage will be minimal. At the same time, the effort of vaccines should be accelerated to try to prevent closure. The defense establishment is joining forces and increasing forces. The green and purple note should be returned now and contacts reduced.”