Corona Cabinet approved

The Corona Cabinet approved the recommendations to extend the green label restrictions to all sectors of the economy, except malls and commerce. This, starting Wednesday next week. Among other things, the cabinet ruled that tests for children up to the age of 12 would be funded by the state, and that the number of participants in closed and open events was also limited. It was further stipulated that the restriction of guests at events and celebrations would be examined.
The decision, which will be required for a vote in the government, includes applying the green label outline to all sectors of the economy, except malls and commerce; The green mark will be applied from the age of three, and payment for the tests will be made according to the following outline: ages 3-0 exempt, ages 12-3 - unlimited state-funded tests starting next Wednesday, ages 12 and up - privately funded tests (only for those not vaccinated by choice).
The ministers also decided to apply the purple mark in malls and shops, by limiting occupancy by one person per seven meters. Stores up to one hundred meters in size will be excluded, and the purple mark will not be applied to them. The date of entry into force of the extended purple character will be this coming Monday, subject to the approval of government regulations.
With regard to mass events, the Cabinet has ruled that in closed spaces, up to a thousand people will be allowed to enter. In an open space - up to 5,000 people will be allowed in and in events with marked seats - there will be no content restriction in accordance with the green label. The ministers also decided that in events in private homes, where there is no green label, a closed space can accommodate up to 50 people and an open space up to a hundred people. These restrictions will also take effect next Wednesday.
The Ministerial Forum also decided to authorize the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Economy and the Minister of Innovation and Science to formulate an outline regarding events and celebrations, which will be approved soon. In addition, regulations were approved for the implementation of the outline for the opening of the education system, as previously agreed between the Ministers of Education and Health.
On the subject of events and weddings, Minister of Construction and Housing Zeev Elkin (New Hope) and Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked (right) argued that participants in events should be restricted. Elkin argued that "such incidents should be limited and the minimum number should be checked in terms of hall owners." On the other hand, Minister Orit Farkash HaCohen (blue and white) objected: "I would like to serve here for the population of young couples who are in great tension, who have already arranged marriages. They need certainty and it is impossible to drive them crazy, neither mentally nor financially."
The issue of expanding the vaccine campaign in the third dose, the booster, also came up in the discussion. Minister Shaked said: "I demand to start throwing a booster to 40-plus-year-olds as soon as possible." Farkash HaCohen also said that she hopes that tomorrow the testing team at the Ministry of Health will decide to extend the third vaccine to those aged 40+. "If the vaccines are expanded, even if we reach a peak of patients for a few weeks, we will reach a decrease afterwards and thus avoid closure," she said. Minister Elkin proposed abolishing the green label for those who are entitled to a third vaccine and have not taken it.
During the discussion, Minister Zeev Elkin proposed postponing the start of the school year to October 1. By doing so, he said, the parents' uncertainty would be avoided, and those days would be returned at the end of the year.
Most ministers thought the year should be opened as usual but called for vaccination in schools. Ministers Horowitz and Michaeli said that vaccinations should be given during school hours as other vaccines are stored, but Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Bitton said she opposes vaccinations during school hours. Justice Minister Gideon Saar proposed as a compromise to vaccinate students at zero.
Professor Ran Blitzer, director of Clalit's research institute, warned at the hearing: "We will cross the hospital threshold of compliance, by mid-September. Also considering the reinforcement we have received." Professor Eran Segal from the Weizmann Institute added: "We may pass the flow threshold on the scale, but it also depends on us starting with a 40-plus-year-old booster in the coming days."
The Minister of Transportation, Merav Michaeli, demanded at the hearing that compensation be provided to Israeli airlines. "There is talk of compensation, but the Israeli airlines have not yet been taken care of. I demand here from the Prime Minister and my friends in the Treasury to save Israeli aviation immediately."
Michaeli said she was "against closure, as much as possible. The guidelines should create stability and certainty for the whole economy, in all sectors, that the public knows in advance what is going to happen simply and we must speak with a uniform voice - the whole government."