The special ministerial forum on the COVID-19 pandemic approved coronavirus czar Ronny Gamzu's proposal to reimpose a nationwide lockdown for about a month
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The decision now moves to the cabinet and then to the Knesset for final approval, but it is expected to be fast tracked by early next week, with the lockdown taking effect by next Friday.
Before the vote on the matter late Thursday, the coronavirus forum was asked to deliberate on a variety of options. Gamzu and officials in the Health Ministry presented the lockdown option as the best means of tackling the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has begun to spiral out of control with case records being broken almost daily.
Under the emerging decision, which was favored by Gamzu despite being potentially harmful to the economy, the shutdown of the businesses and other public venues will be along the lines of the measures imposed several months ago.
Gamzu has been pushing for this harsh measure in light of the upcoming surges in community spread and deaths from COVID-19. In recent days some 3,000 new cases have been recorded on a daily basis. If approved the measure would see Israelis being forced to stay at home or within a set distance from their residence and virtually all non-essential commercial activity would cease. This would span the month of the High Holy Days, taking effect on Sept 15 and ending on Oct. 12.
The lockdown's primary goal is to ensure emergency rooms won't reach overcapacity, as well as to lower the morbidity rate. The lockdown, if approved as proposed, will be particularly stringent during the High Holy Days, when families traditionally hold large meals.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
