Pupils to return to school classrooms today

Number of coronavirus patients in Israel drops to 3,452, 48 intubated

By MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN, EYTAN HALON
Israeli students at the Orot Etzion school in Efrat wear protective face masks as they return to school for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus, May 3, 2020 (photo credit: GERSHON ELINSON/FLASH90)
Israeli students at the Orot Etzion school in Efrat wear protective face masks as they return to school for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus, May 3, 2020
(photo credit: GERSHON ELINSON/FLASH90)
The education system will start returning to full capacity in most towns and cities nationwide on Sunday morning, gradually introducing back grades four through 10 to a full five-day-a-week schedule, except in cities with high rates of infections.
Exact timetables for pupils returning to classes will be at the discretion of local authorities, the Prime Minister’s Office said, and school attendance will be voluntary at this stage. Locations with high rates of infection will be re-assessed on June 1.  
At school, good hygiene will be strictly enforced, including regular hand washing and maintaining a two-meter distance between students. Younger students will wear masks in open spaces and during breaks, and older children will wear them even while learning.
If coronavirus is detected at a school, it will be closed and anyone who was near the patient will enter 14 days of isolation, in accordance with Health Ministry guidelines. Last week, a school in Rehovot was ordered shut for two weeks after a teacher tested positive for coronavirus.
School bus services will also restart gradually from Sunday following an agreement between the health and education ministries. Under the agreement fixed groups of pupils will travel on the same buses, and a supervisor will ensure that they do not crowd together. The students must also wear masks and will not be permitted to sit next to the driver.
The full reopening of schools, permitting a greater return of parents to the workforce, comes amid a continuing decline in active cases of coronavirus. Despite many Israelis celebrating a return to normality in recent weeks, self-employed workers demonstrated again on Saturday evening at Tel Aviv’s Charles Clore Park, protesting a lack of assistance from the government.
As of Sunday afternoon, there were 3,452 active cases in Israel, including 48 patients requiring ventilators. The death toll increased by three to a total of 271 during the day and only one new case were confirmed.
Responding to the declining rate of infection, the government decided on Friday to permit outdoors events with up to 50 attendees. All events will be subject to stringent hygiene regulations and social distancing.
While the bathing season will only open on Wednesday, thousands of Israelis flocked to the coastline over the weekend, taking advantage of the scorching weather.
Limited attempts to disperse crowds of sunbathers in Tel Aviv and nearby coastal areas were unsuccessful. Many beach-goers opted to enter the water, despite warnings that lifeguards will only return to their posts later this week.
As temperatures soared, fire crews were called out to more than 300 incidents on Saturday, including 136 fires in open areas and 48 buildings. The heat wave is expected to continue until the end of the week.