Netanyahu: Infections are sagging, but we’ll wait on opening up to be sure

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told ministers that no rollback of the coronavirus lockdown will be considered before October 18, Channel 12 news reports.

In a video released by the prime minister on Twitter, he says that while Israel is seeing infection numbers drop off, the experts recommend waiting a week to see if the trend continues.

“It’s too early to say if it will hold,” he says.

He adds that while Israel was the first to lockdown a second time, many European countries are preparing to follow in Israel’s footsteps, and the country needs to be able to emerge from the lockdown first as well, urging Israelis to keep to the rules.

In a slight jab at party member Gila Gamliel, he says everyone needs to keep to the rules, including “ministers in the government.”

Netanyahu on Sunday said he was resisting pressure to swiftly re-open the country.

According to a plan being considered by the ministers, schools will remain closed until at least the end of the month, though pre-schools may open sooner, the channel reports.