Closure on Jerusalem neighborhoods, Bnei Brak not expected to be renewed

Health officials and ministers will hold a meeting at 10 a.m. to discuss whether to renew closure rules in the city of Bnei Brak and various neighborhoods in Jerusalem that had seen high rates of infection.

The regulations expired last night at midnight. The authorities are not expected to recommend further action after encouraging figures show the virus spread has slowed down considerably in these predominantly ultra-Orthodox areas, and after local officials pledge to move the remaining sick residents to isolation hotels, according to a Health Ministry statement from Sunday night.

Many of the rules related to Bnei Brak were already lifted last week, though public transportation was not allowed to resume.

The residents of Bnei Brak and the Jerusalem neighborhoods are now under the same rules as the rest of the country, which bar them from venturing more than 100 meters from their homes except to purchase food and supplies or go to work.