Israel's coronavirus cabinet Monday evening approved a proposal to impose a nighttime curfew beginning on Wednesday, as morbidity rates in the country continue to climb.
The cabinet's decision now awaits the approval of the government, which is expected to convene Tuesday afternoon to decide on the matter.
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Under the plan drafted by the National Security Council, if infection rates remain high through December – more than 3,500 newly diagnosed cases per day by December 20 – the government will impose a partial lockdown, mandating the closure of all businesses that are open to the public.
If the number of daily diagnoses hits 4,500 by January 2, Israel will go into a full lockdown, according to the cabinet's proposal.
National coronavirus commissioner Professor Nachman Ash doubted the efficacy of the nighttime curfew, saying it will not cause a "significant change in the immediate term."
"We cannot know if a nightly curfew will be effective. It only delays the inevitable. To approve the NSC plan is like declaring we'll enter a full lockdown on January 2," Ash was quoted by the Walla news site as saying.
The coronavirus cabinet also voted to impose new requirements on Israelis returning from abroad, requiring them to undergo regular coronavirus testing during their home isolation period. Those who refuse will be required to stay in isolation at coronavirus hotels. The cabinet additionally agreed to keep certain shopping malls open, as research has indicated they are not an infection source.
Museums and other cultural events will also be allowed to continue operating on a limited basis, in coordination with the ministries of Health and Culture and Sports. Tourist hotspots in Eilat and the Dead Sea were also exempt from curfew as part of the "green islands" program.
As for schools, cabinet ministers decided they would remain open in "green" and "yellow" cities with low and moderate infection rates. As stated, the specifics of any recommendations put forth by the corona cabinet are still awaiting government approval, while past experience indicates that alterations or outright vetoes of the cabinet's proposals are probable.
Earlier, Finance Minister Israel Katz said he supported implementing a nighttime curfew "immediately" and not waiting for the Hanukkah holiday (December 10-18).
Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz also expressed his support for the plan.
"A nighttime lockdown is important, not just during the holiday," he stipulated. "It will limit weddings, social gatherings and parties. We can decide it will begin some of the days at 8 p.m., and one day at 10 p.m. in order to let people have one long night during the week."
Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi of the Blue and White faction called the nighttime curfew "problematic," and Social Equality Minister Meirav Cohen, also of Blue and White, argued that it was unenforceable.
Earlier on Monday, speaking at the weekly Likud faction meeting, Netanyahu warned that "with the end in sight, if we don't act correctly, people will fall ill and die." He said ministers would make "correct, determined, non-populist decisions" to drive down infections until the vaccines arrive, without elaborating on the proposed measures.
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