The coronavirus cabinet met for several hours Sunday night but left without rolling out any new restrictions on the public.
The cabinet instead decided that the goal at this stage is “maximum protection for Israeli citizens from the spread of the Delta strain, along with minimal harm to daily life,” while building infrastructure to detect and treat COVID variants and other viruses in the future.
It was also determined that Coronavirus Commissioner Prof. Nachman Ash and Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Roni Numa would formulate a recommendation for enforcing isolation on those who return from abroad. It was also decided to promote a program for full genetic sequencing of all those entering the country through international border crossings.
Finally, there will be increased focus placed on vaccinating teens and preteens, as well.
The country, like the rest of the world, is dealing with the Delta variant, a coronavirus mutation that is at least 50% more infectious than its British predecessor.
Although over the course of the past few days active cases in Israel have surged from fewer than 200 to almost 1,200, the number of serious cases has remained stable and on Sunday slightly declined. There were 114 new cases diagnosed on Saturday and another 63 between midnight and press time on Sunday.
There were 23 serious cases, down from 26 the day before.
There is currently only one red city in Israel, two orange and five yellow.
“Our approach is simple,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said at a cabinet meeting Sunday morning. “Maximum protection for the citizens of Israel with minimum disruption to routine and the economy in Israel. Masks instead of restrictions. Vaccinations instead of lockdowns.”
Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz did not appear to want to slap any new widespread restrictions on the country that would harm its economy. Rather, they wanted to convince 12- to 15-year-olds to get the jab, as well as those adults who have not yet been inoculated.
“The Delta variant, as it has been said, infects 50% more, but we know that the vaccine works,” Bennett said Sunday. “It simply works. People who can be vaccinated and are not doing so are simply putting themselves and those around them in danger.”
He called on young children to encourage their parents to sign them up to get inoculated.
“I especially appeal to young people,” Bennett said. “I know how much you want to relax this summer, and you can do so. I have four children of these ages. We do not want to impose any restrictions – no parties, no trips, no nothing. However, it is precisely because of this, if you do not want restrictions to be imposed on you, go today and get vaccinated. Talk to your parents and get vaccinated.”
According to the health funds, around 30% of teens between the ages of 12 and 16 have gotten vaccinated, and the country could reach as much as 50% of this age cohort within the coming days.
Ben-Gurion Airport has been Israel’s Achilles’ heel in the fight against the virus.
On Sunday, the government took several more steps to crack down on the airport complex, including approving a Health Ministry recommendation to require all Israeli passengers over the age of 16 to fill out a declaration before leaving Ben-Gurion Airport that they are not traveling to a “forbidden” country with high infection rates.
Airlines will be instructed not to allow passengers to board the plane without this declaration.
The government also extended the regulations pertaining to traveling to and from banned countries through July 11. In addition, leaving for one of these countries without special permission would be considered criminal and punishable with a NIS 5,000 fine.
The current list of banned countries includes Argentina, Brazil, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa. Individuals returning from these countries are required to enter isolation even if they are vaccinated.
The Health Ministry continues to recommend avoiding all unnecessary trips abroad, especially to countries under a travel warning.
On Sunday, two nations were added to this list, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, while the Maldives and Nepal were removed from the group, which now includes Belarus, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Namibia, Paraguay, Seychelles, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.
In addition, parents who prevent their minors from being screened for coronavirus on arrival at the airport will be subject to a NIS 3,500 fine.
Maj.-Gen. (res.) Roni Numa has been appointed special coronavirus airport commissioner, Bennett announced at the morning cabinet meeting.
“For a year and a half now, there has been a huge national weak point, and that is Ben-Gurion Airport,” Bennett said at the opening of the meeting. “Therefore, in coordination with the transportation minister, the health minister and the interior minister, we decided to appoint a special director to handle transitions and prevent the entry of this virus and future variants and viruses from around the world into Israel.”
Numa already worked to coordinate the effort to defeat the pandemic in the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) sector, including in Bnei Brak.
Finally, ministers approved the issuing of a tender to set up an additional COVID-19 testing complex at the airport.
On Sunday, Health Ministry Director-General Chezy Levy announced his resignation in a letter to Horowitz, who thanked him for “serving the country during one of the most challenging periods known to the Israeli health system.”
Levy began his position last June. He will return to his previous role as director-general of Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.
An announcement on the appointment of the new director-general will be published soon, the Health Ministry said in a statement.