Israel’s Health Ministry recorded 1,493 new coronavirus cases on Sunday morning, a high number in light of the low number of tests performed over the weekend.
There are currently 26,062 active cases, with 445 seriously ill patients, of whom 119 are ventilated. The death toll has risen to 1,010.
Although Israel continued to suffer through an unprecedented heatwave on Sunday, it was a stormy day from a political perspective, as mayors of four Chareidi cities slammed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for an anticipated lockdown of their cities by the coronavirus cabinet on Sunday night.
The mayors of Bnei Brak, Beitar Illit, Elad and Emmanuel sent a letter to Netanyahu threatening to halt all cooperation with the government if lockdowns are imposed on their cities.
The prime minister pushed off the meeting of the coronavirus cabinet scheduled for Sunday and convened a meeting with coronavirus czar Prof. Ronni Gamzu, Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman, and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri to discuss alternative options such as tighter restrictions rather than a full lockdown.
Coronavirus czar Prof. Ronni Gamzu was expected to present a list of eight to ten “red cities” out of the over 30 red cities to the coronavirus cabinet on Sunday to be approved for a lockdown.
Gamzu had said that only eight to ten of the “reddest cities” will be placed into full lockdown, with residents restricted to within 500 meters of their homes, schools and non-essential businesses closed and entry and exit to the city restricted.
The remaining cities on the list, with slightly lower infection rates, were to face nightly curfews and closed non-essential schools and businesses but entry and exit to the city would not be restricted.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
It’s all lunacy
israel loses 900 people a year to the flu
8000 to smoking induced cancers
2,500 to pollution
anybody doing anything about smoking or pollution?
this is just a bad flu season
i don’t understand this. if it is a sofick pikuach nefesh whats the question. for sure one should stay home and not spread the disease.
When the first waver of COVID-19 hit the world, Israel was amongst the most successful nations in battling the pandemic.
Why is the second wave is Israel so clearly failing?
It seems that in the first wave Israel’s response was driven by medical needs and evidence. This time round however Israel has reverted to its old self: political wheeling and dealing. The Mayors threaten so the Prime Minister backs down. I am Haredi but can tell you that the Haredi community has very little regard for social distancing or mask-wearing at community functions or Simchas. Hassidic Courts hold weddings with thousands of participants with not a care for the rules of the independent Ministry of Health. The participants hope for the best but turn up as after all, it is a Simcha, and Simcha protects us. Participants at the Rebbishe affairs are told not to photograph. The police stand by the side knowing what is going on but failing to act, just the same as they do with the constant secular demonstrations. That is why the real weighted serious illness and death rates are rising frighteningly. Still not to worry there will be no lockdown because the Haredi parties are threatening to bolt the coalition. The most there will be is a very weak nighttime curfew, but don’t worry people will still be allowed in and out of the “red” cities so everyone can flood in from Bnei Brak to weddings in Jerusalem or vice versa. What a farce. Then of course as things continue to get worse, we have Housing Minister Litzman guaranteeing that the Yomim Tovin will carry on as though COVID-19 is just a distant memory or a figment of everyone’s imagination. Except those who have lost dear ones or whose relatives are suffering the terrible after-effects of this wicked disease.
It’s purely political. Netanyahu is threatened by Chareidi Mayors & MK’s and so he backs off from doing anything. Why isn’t he doing his job and protecting us and ENFORCING strict measure to curtail this plague? True, they openly target Chareidi cities and completely ignore what goes on in Tel Aviv, but honestly, the entire country should be in lockdown. with the army helping out those who need help.
I have been in bidud twice – it’s ok. Yes it’s a bit boring but we managed. I’d rather be stuck at home than on a ventilator…or dead. Netanyahu, grow a spine and take a strong stand. If you have to shut down RH davenning, so we will daven at home. G-d will still hear our Tefillos and I’m sure my husband will blow shofar from our neighbors. But if strong and decisive action isn’t taken very soon, we may never recover, health wise, economically or spiritually.