Knesset Education Committee rejects virus lockdown closure of grades 5-10

The Knesset Education Committee rejects government regulations that would have closed grades 5-10 in the country’s schools as part of a national lockdown aimed at curbing rapidly rising coronavirus infection rates.

A lockdown, the country’s third since the start of the outbreak earlier this year, is set to begin at 5 p.m Sunday evening. Although intended to be just two weeks with an option to extend, health officials have already warned it will likely go on for a month.

Blue and White party member Ram Shefa at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on May 14, 2019 (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

At the meeting, committee chair Blue and White MK Ram Shefa declares that “there is no reason in the world for that children in grades 5-10 should stay at home for a month. We have gathered to take a decision and to do everything possible to return them to studies.”

The government now has 48 hours to issue fresh regulations or the existing orders, approved by the cabinet on Thursday, will automatically be canceled.