The Knesset committee responsible for combating the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday appeared to once again be at odds with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the latest restrictions on movement meant to curb the outbreak.
The Knesset Coronavirus Committee butted heads with Likud ministers last week when they voted to reopen gyms and pools only days after the cabinet ordered their closure. Now, the committee is debating the validity of upcoming weekend lockdowns as well as renewed closure of gyms, restaurants and beaches.
Sources close to Netanyahu on Saturday said he intends to fire the head of the committee, Likud MK Yifat Shasha-Biton before the committee gets a chance to vote on whether to lift the measures on Monday.
At the start of the meeting, Shasha-Biton said she is "not sure" the latest restrictions, imposed by the government on Friday, are "the correct solution at this time".
Associate Director-General of the Health Ministry Prof. Itamar Grotto said during the meeting that he is worried about the overload of patients in Israeli hospitals, which he claims will be eased through weekend lockdown.
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Associate Director-General of the Health Ministry Prof. Itamar Grotto
(Photo: Knesset Spokesperson)
“We have over 550 coronavirus patients in hospitals and this overload makes me worried,” said Prof. Grotto. "From the moment a person becomes infected until his condition deteriorates, two weeks go by. We can look forward with concern because even if we do close the entire economy and no one would leave the house, we will still see the continuation of contagion."
As part of the debate, the Health Ministry presented the committee with the latest coronavirus data, which reveals the majority of COVID-19 infections (67%) occur in people's private homes.
Nearly 10% of the infections occur in educational facilities, 5.6% at events, 4.8% in religious institutions and 4% in bars, night clubs, parties and restaurants.
The report added that over the past week, 35 people contracted COVID-19 in clubs and other party venues, 11 caught the infection in bars and 10 in restaurants and cafes. Another 33 people said to have contracted the virus during recreational activities but the exact locations couldn't be confirmed.
Despite the government's insistance to close down gyms, pools and beaches, the Health Ministry said they did not have confimred data on the number of infections recorded at those locations.
The ministry added although COVID-19 doesn't spread through sweat, it can be contracted when exhaling excessively.
The government is hoping to pass the bill, ordering weekend lockdowns, in the Knesset on Monday. The closure of restaurants and cafes is set to take effect on Tuesday, while gyms have been shuttered since Friday evening.