Netanyahu says coming days will be a ‘test’

Netanyahu says the coming days will be a “test” to see whether restrictions meant to contain the coronavirus need to be reimposed and if the number of new infections is in fact a rising trend.

For now, the school system is generally staying open, and he hopes it will be able to continue do so.

Living in the coronavirus era is akin to a long journey close to the abyss. Israel had distanced itself from that abyss in recent weeks, but has now moved closer again because of “contempt” for the restrictions.

He says the government will update the criteria for the “purple badge” certificate businesses need to open, but doesn’t elaborate.

He also says he instructed the public security minister to tighten enforcement of social-distancing guidelines in public and that he asked the justice minister to allow city inspectors to take part in enforcement.

He says COVID-19 is “not influenced” at all by climate. It hits in hot and cold climates alike, he says, citing Sweden with 4,300 fatalities and Belgium with almost 10,000.

Israel’s 284 fatalities are a factor of the “efficient, rapid measures” taken to contain the virus.

But Israelis must keep following the rules — social-distancing of two meters, wearing a mask in public areas, and washing hands and maintaining hygiene.

“We’re all responsible for each other,” he says. “If we don’t keep the rules,” he concludes, the virus “will strike again.”