Over half of Israelis live in coronavirus red or orange zones

Some 4.5 million Israelis, more than half (51%) of the population, were residents of red or orange zones as of Monday morning, as Israel entered its first full day of its third coronavirus lockdown, according to the Health Ministry. Over 150 cities and neighborhoods were listed as red and orange zones by the ministry as of Monday morning. Although much of the education system will be permitted to stay open during the lockdown, fifth to 12th graders in red and orange cities and neighborhoods will remain at home as part of the traffic light plan. First to fourth graders and kindergartners will be able to attend school in all cities and neighborhoods, regardless of which color zone they are. Despite a decision by the coronavirus cabinet to not allow in-person studies for grades 5-10, the Knesset Education Committee, led by MK Ram Shefa, approved a change to the proposed lockdown regulations on Sunday morning that would allow those students to continue learning at schools in green and yellow cities. Last Thursday, the proposal called for those students to stay home while preschools and grades 1-4 and 11-12 would study from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. In response to an outcry from parents, municipal authorities and medical experts, the 1 p.m. deadline was changed later that day and it was decided that students would study a full day. The additional education revision approved Sunday will allow grades 5-10 to operate a full day on their in-person learning days and to study on Zoom the rest of the time. The high schoolers will study in capsules and be allowed to interact with up to three other capsules; teachers will be able to instruct up to four capsules. Health Ministry officials expressed opposition to the decision by the Knesset Education Committee, with Health Minister Yuli Edelstein stating that “lockdown requires personal responsibility from each and every one of us. Unfortunately, not everyone acts responsibly. We saw this today in the Knesset's Education Committee, in the unfortunate decision to resume schooling in all classrooms – something that will surely extend the closure.” Hannah Brown contributed to this report.

Over half of Israelis live in coronavirus red or orange zones

Fifth to 12th graders in red and orange cities and neighborhoods will remain at home as part of Health Ministry regulations.

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