Netanyahu tells world leaders ‘no one knows what will happen’ once economy, schools reopened

Prime Minister Netanyahu holds talks with leaders from countries that have had success in combating the COVID-19 pandemic to discuss “returning to a safe routine in the shadow of virus” and readying for a potential second outbreak.

“In fact, no one knows what will happen we open our economies and schools. We must be ready and prepared for an accordion effect and the possibility we’ll need to close again,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office quotes him saying.

According to the PMO, Netanyahu discussed Israel’s policy of sealing off “red areas” with high rates of infection to allow for other places with a low number of COVID-19 cases to continue as normal.

During the video conference, the leaders agreed to hold further meetings on reopening schools and resuming international flights and tourism. They also agreed that Israel’s National Cyber Security Authority will lead discussions about “databases, without harming privacy,” apparently referring to the country’s tracking of citizens sensitive personal information in order to locate potential virus carriers.

The other leaders who took part in the meeting, which was initiated by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, were Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.