Following a sharp drop in coronavirus infection rates in Bnei Brak and Haredi areas in Jerusalem, ministers are set to ease some restrictions imposed by official orders that will expire Monday.
Health Ministry officials said they were not only encouraged by preliminary findings indicated infection rates are down but were also pleased with the commitments of local leadership to remove at least half of the remaining residents infected by the virus to dedicated hotels for quarantine by the end of the week, removing them from their families and communities to avoid further contaminations.
The ultra-Orthodox community had been particularly affected by the coronavirus after it was late to implement many of the social distancing regulations issued by the government. Synagogues and seminaries were forced to close and worship was allowed only inside homes.
Health authorities had imposed travel restrictions on the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak and Haredi neighborhoods in Jerusalem earlier this month with police blocking the movement of residents in an attempt to slow down the spread of coronavirus in those communities and beyond with IDF troops were assigned to provide food to residents and assist them with medical and other needs.
Daily infection rates in Bnei Brak and parts of Jerusalem had reached a 20% rise daily but in the past 24 hours, they were seen to drop to 2% only.
Residents have also been increasingly willing to quarantine outside their homes in the dedicated hotels prepared to care for mild cases of COVID-19 and a shortage of rooms has now been reported. Health authorities said they are in the process of locating more hotels.
The number of tests for coronavirus has doubled in the affected areas confirming officials' estimates that the spread of the virus was now contained to a greater extent.
The municipality of Bnei Brak praised residents for their cooperation.
On Sunday, cabinet ministers voted to allow public prayers to resume for groups of up to 19 people under social distancing guidelines and provided the worshipers wear facial masks.