Hotels opened for ultra-Orthodox coronavirus patients with mild symptoms who require accommodations away from their crowded communities, have become for some alternative all-expenses-payed vacations spots, Ynet has learned.
There are currently 6,400 coronavirus patients residing at 18 such locations, the last of which opened as recently as Wednesday, serving the ultra-Orthodox sector of the population which is among the most impacted populations by COVID-19 and constitutes over 40% of cases, according to health officials.
Parts of the community have come under fire for ignoring health directives and holding religious holiday events in violation of regulations.
Eight additional hotels serve secular communities, housing some 1,200 patients.
As thousands of yeshiva students are set to go on a study break during the holidays, more Haredi families opted to actively infect at least half of all family members with the virus in order to meet the required criteria to qualify for such accommodations.
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Ultra-Orthodox congregating outside a coronavirus testing site in Bnei Brak
(Photo: Yariv Katz)
Coronavirus hotels are exempt from the restrictions outside, and crowded holiday celebrations are allowed.
An IDF Home Front Command who oversees the Maintainance of the hotels told Ynet that ultra-Orthodox COVID-19 patients are encouraged to leave their towns and apartment buildings for fear they would spread the disease to their neighbors.
"There is always a waiting list for rooms at our hotels and during the holiday season that list has grown, but I believe given adequate conditions to quarantine, most would still prefer to stay at home," he said.