Edelstein: There’s an impression virus crisis is soon over; that’s not the case

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein slams complacency in Israel regarding the coronavirus pandemic, contradicting frequent recent remarks by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu implying the country is on its way out of the crisis.

“We will have to live in the shadow of the coronavirus for a long time,” Edelstein says in the Knesset plenum, during a discussion of fine hikes for lockdown violations.

“I have been taught not to lie, and I don’t want to tell you that in a month everything will be open, because that is not the case,” Edelstein says. “There is an atmosphere of ‘This is it, just one more push and it’s over.’ It must be truthfully said that is not the case.”

Edelstein does not mention Netanyahu’s role in creating that impression.

He says Israel will need to be “very careful” in exiting the lockdown.