Ministers stalled over exit strategy; concern over Haredi test avoidance

Published: 22 October 2020

Last updated: 4 March 2024

Officials cite falling hotspot numbers but doctor says empty test centres suggest faulty stats; Netanyahu denies minister’s claim he told Haredi leaders they could open schools

Ministers fail to decide on next stage of exit strategy (Jerusalem Post)
Edelstein: We need to learn lessons from reopening after first wave so we don’t have a third one

As ‘red zones’ reopen, concern Haredi test avoidance exaggerates improvement (Times of Israel)
Decision-makers cite falling COVID cases in hotspots to support cancelling their restrictions, but Dr Ian Miskin says his empty test centres suggest that stats are faulty

Number of active virus cases drops below 20,000 for first time since July (Times of Israel)
Figure had risen as high as 72,164 in early October during national lockdown to curb runaway infection rates; positive test rate continues decline

Israeli minister told ultra-Orthodox leaders Netanyahu agreed to open schools in violation of Covid rules (Haaretz)
Arye Dery reportedly said Netanyahu and public security minister approved opening of religious schools, but later rescinded their consent; Dery, Netanyahu, Ohana deny claim

Photo: United Hatzalah workers test ultra-Orthodox Jewish men at the Wolfson Yeshiva in Jerusalem on August 27 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)