Israel begins rolling back coronavirus lockdown measures as kindergartens reopen
Israel gov't face defiance from ultra-Orthodox community as top rabbi calls for elementary schools opening
Israel began Sunday its first step to scale down the coronavirus lockdown measures, by reopening kindergartens, some small businesses and take-away services.
On top of the children’s nurseries, beaches and national parks are set to reopen Sunday as well, and the one-kilometer (just over half a mile) home radius limitation will be lifted as well.
In addition, the Temple Mount, the Western Wall plaza and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher will be opened for prayer in an outline that has not yet been published.
But the lockdown will remain in place until at least midnight Wednesday in some areas designated “red,” mainly those with majority ultra-Orthodox populations, where infections remain high, according to authorities.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech to the nation Saturday night, urging compliance with Health Ministry rules.
“This time, we’re exiting the lockdown with caution, in line with the plan set out by the experts at the Health Ministry," he said at the live address.
The main challenge the government is facing is with the ultra-Orthodox community. One of its leading figures, 92-year-old Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky -- who also tested positive for COVID-19 -- defied Health Ministry regulations by ordering to open elementary schools.
In an interview with Israel’s Army Radio, Finance Minister Israel Katz said that “there’s no doubt this is problematic. [Pandemic czar Prof Ronni] Gamzu and the prime minister made clear that this is forbidden. We must prevent the opening of institutions against the law.”