Israel's Corona Cabinet Action Plan

By BJLife Israel Newsroom
Posted on 12/22/21

The ministerial committee on fighting the coronavirus (the Corona Cabinet) convened this evening (Tuesday, 21 December 2021), to discuss the continued handling of the Omicron strain.

Updated national and global morbidity data was presented by Health Ministry professionals. The action plan that was formulated in recent days was also discussed.

Following are the Cabinet's decisions:

• Malls and commercial facilities

-       Malls will operate on the Purple Badge format, according to the occupancy ratio of 1:15 (one person per 15 square meters)

-       Entry to stores larger than 100 square meters – both in open facilities and in malls and closed shopping facilities – will be allowed subject to presentation of a Green Pass. The Green Pass requirement will also apply to the employees of these stores.

-       Food stalls in malls will provide take-away service only to customers upon presentation of a Green Pass.

-       Entry to restaurants inside malls will be upon presentation of a Green Pass, according to the current format for restaurants.

-       The Green Pass in malls and commercial facilities will not apply to places that provide essential services, which will continue to operate according to the current format (Purple Badge, occupancy ratio of 1:7).

• Education system

-       Grades 1-12 in red and orange communities – only classes in which at least 70% of pupils have received the first dose of the vaccine – will have frontal learning. Classes in which less than 70% of pupils have been vaccinated will learn online.

This decision will apply to middle schools and high schools (grades 7-12) effective immediately and in primary schools (grades 1-6) in three weeks. Until then, primary schools will enact a policy of reducing contacts.

-       In green and yellow communities, the education system will continue as normal, subject to the "Magen Chniuch" and Green Classroom plans.

The decisions will take effect following approval of the relevant regulations and subject to approval by the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and the Knesset Education Committee.

It was also decided:

• During January, state financing for antigen tests for children for the Green Pass will cease. (The state will continue to finance antigen tests for the immuno-compromised of all ages.)

• It will be possible to receive a Green Pass for up to one month following inoculation with the first dose, in order to enter the education system and facilities to which the Green Pass applies but not to receive an exemption from quarantine. This decision will take effect following completion of the necessary adjustments to Health Ministry computers.

• PCR sampling will be carried out twice a week for workers without Green Passes in Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs external frameworks including institutions for the elderly, people with disabilities, children and youth frameworks, etc.

Participating in the discussion were the Health Minister, the Foreign Minister, the Defense Minister, the Justice Minister, the Finance Minister, the Public Security Minister, the Economy and Industry Minister, the Interior Minister, the Education Minister, the Housing and Construction Minister, the Religious Services Minister, the Innovation and Science Minister, the Tourism Minister, the Culture and Sports Minister, the Social Equality Minister, the Minister in the Finance Ministry, the Cabinet Secretary, the Deputy Attorney General, the Deputy Director of the National Security Council, the Prime Minister's Office Director General, the Health Ministry Director General, the Finance Ministry Director General, the Education Ministry Director General, the Transportation and Road Safety Ministry Director General, the Finance Ministry Budget Director, the Defense Ministry Director of Civil Defense, the Director of the Public Health Service, the national coronavirus project manager, GOC Home Front Command, Prof. Eran Segal, Prof. Ran Balicer, Prof. Yinon Ashkenazy, Prof. Doron Gazit, Prof. Eli Wachsman and other professional officials.