Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on Wednesday afternoon to reinstate the "stoplight" plan devised by national coronavirus coordinator Professor Ronni Gamzu, which codes cities, towns, and local authorities based on their coronavirus numbers, allowing the government to take localized rather than nationwide measures to combat the spread of the virus.
Netanyahu met with some 220 local leaders via Zoom on Wednesday so they could voice their concerns about the COVID situation.
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During the meeting, head of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel and mayor of Modi'in Haim Bibas asked Netanyahu to implement the stoplight plan.
"It's clear to everyone that when we come out of lockdown and the number of cases drops, the stoplight model must be reinstated. We need a clear, professional model that leaves no room for doubt – a 'red' city will accept restrictions and a 'green' city will be able to allow itself to open up activities, in accordance with instructions," Bibas said in the Zoom meeting.
"Other considerations must not be allowed to influence decisions. We need to go into schools and retirement homes with corona tests that give us results within 15 minutes. There is a technological solution on the market already. Why not adopt it so we can get back to normal?" Bibas said.
Netanyahu told the local leaders that experts had informed him that only next would it be possible to discuss loosening or tightening the current restrictions. The prime minister also asked the local authority heads to help prevent illegal gatherings and ensure that public health regulations were followed.
Netanyahu also asked them to exert their influence and help curb Simhat Torah celebrations, which are expected to lead to a spike in the number of new cases.
Head of the National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat also took part in the meeting and said that there were signs that the spread of the virus was slowing.
"It's still not a clear trend, certainly given the instability of the numbers during the holidays. It's not enough. The percentage of positive test results is still high – we can't get back to routine with thousands of new cases a day," Ben-Shabbat said.
The local leaders asked that a local government representative be appointed to the government's Corona cabinet, which they said would be a vital step in allowing the government to apply different measures to different communities, based on their COVID numbers.
Lod Mayor Avi Ravivo suggested that Bibas be that representative, arguing that if Bibas were given the job, the messages would be "clearer and more transparent, and it would help the government get them through to the public."
Ravivo also suggested that 300-400 IDF reservists be called up and trained to help enforce public health regulation in the 30 cities and towns coded red in central Israel.
"If and when we need another lockdown, I propose that it be short but tight. The tighter it is, the more effective it will be, and it will have less effect on the economy," Ravivo said.
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