Coronavirus cabinet to convene Thursday on gathering rules

The so-called coronavirus cabinet of top ministers will convene Thursday to discuss rules on gatherings, after a parliamentary panel refuses to extend the government regulations by 28 days.

Shas MK Yaakov Asher, who heads the Justice, Law and Constitution Committee, limits the new cabinet health regulations to a week, rather than the four weeks requested by the government.

He says the government owes the public clarity on the rules and overall strategy.

“The public can’t wait any longer for the plan of virus czar Prof. Ronni Gamzu, and therefore the rules are approved for a week only,” says Asher.

Yesterday, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein was seeking to change coronavirus regulations that limit attendance at restaurants and houses of worship. Edelstein wants to cap attendance at 20 people indoors, and 30 outdoors, as long as all maintain social distance. Smaller eateries will also be allowed to serve 20 people indoors, Channel 12 reports.

Edelstein plans to submit the proposal to the government for approval today.

On Friday, the so-called coronavirus cabinet approved new restrictions on crowding in indoor spaces, while easing other limits against crowding in open-air spaces.

The new regulations, which went into effect Sunday afternoon, limit attendance at 10 people for closed places that are smaller than 80 square meters.