Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kish on Sunday opposed lifting further coronavirus restrictions, claiming this could lead to a third national lockdown.
"We are at a point today that very much depends on our actions and decisions and will determine whether we'll have to lock down for the third time or not," Kish told Ynet.
"The drop in infections has stopped, and we're even seeing an increase. Maybe it's because we do more testing… lifting further restrictions would only increase the infection rate."
If we're responsible, open only according to a set plan with testing or do not open places we are afraid of, then we can avoid a lockdown. If we open more and more places because of pressure… we could very well go back into lockdown."
Kish was hopeful that new, more efficient testing methods would allow schools to remain open even if located within coronavirus hotspots.
One method allows health workers to test entire groups using one testing kit. Since the entire class will have to in quarantine in case one of the students is found to carry the virus, it is expected to save countless testing kits and funds while streamlining the testing process.
"Right now, we're doing 70,000 tests a day or a little over, and that's a huge number. We haven't been able to maximize it and its challenging to get people tested. Once infections go down, naturally, fewer people go and get tested, so we take the battle to other places to find hidden morbidity."
Kish also said he believed that COVID-19 vaccines will become available to the public starting January-February and that the ministry is currently preparing the logistics for its distribution.