Israel on Sunday entered another phase in easing the Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions when children in grades 1-4 went back to school after six weeks at home while the majority of the economy remained under a lockdown.
First grades essentially restarted their school year, while the rest of the students from grades 5 and above remained at home and continued their education online.
Following the Corona Cabinet’s Thursday meeting, training and competitions for competitive athletes are now allowed, and some social services like senior citizens centers returned to operate.
Barbershops and hair salons, drive-in cinemas also reopened.
Prayers in groups inside synagogues are permitted for up to 10 people.
Weddings, parties, organized trips, and ceremonies can be with up to 10 participants inside or 20 participants outside.
Stores and shopping malls remained closed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday the merchants and said he “knows how difficult it is. I request that you cooperate for another few days. I will help you in every way.”
Stores may open next Sunday. However, with the decrease in the number of people infected with Corona, Minister of Finance Yisrael Katz called for the opening of street shops as early as Tuesday.
The BIG chain announced Sunday it will open its stores on Monday, contrary to the guidelines. BIG underscored that these are open-air shopping centers only, and in green cities with a very low or non-existent infection rate.
The Ministry of Health updated Sunday morning that it recorded 218 new corona cases in the past 24 hours.
According to the data, 399 patients are in serious condition, of whom 176 are on life support.
2,541 Israelis have died since the outbreak in Israel in February.
