Despite the Corona Cabinet of the Knesset holding meetings throughout the week, restrictions remain uncertain, as conflicting information filters into the public eye. Last week saw a call to close gyms, pools, and restaurants by the Knesset heads, yet the Cabinet pushed back, questioning if closing these recreational hubs serves the public.
With over 30,000 active coronavirus cases, and an increasing amount of serious cases, the question is how to lower the curve without further crashing the economy. The answers remain to be seen, and with no long term plan in sight – the public is also pushing back.
Protests throughout the country continue. Restaurants and bars were deemed to close on July 19, yet many have decided to stay open, saying that they have no other choice. In a final decision by the Corona Cabinet, restaurants were voted to stay open, and beaches, pools, and parks, which were announced to be closed on the weekends, will stay open as well. Numbers show that there is a low percentage of cases contracted through these places, and that over 65% of confirmed cases are contracted at home. Of course, these cases need to come from somewhere. It is uncertain how valid these numbers are, seeing that the information only considers 28% of incoming cases. Almost 36% of cases could not be traced, and the remaining cases were not accounted for in the report.
In somewhat good news, the Nurses strike which started Monday was ended later that day when the Knesset agreed to hire 2,000 more nurses, 400 more doctors, and invest billions in the necessary equipment, trying to equalize the medical disarray currently taking place due to over 800 nurses in quarantine while hospitals across the country at over capacity or close to the tipping point.
To date, there are 256 people in serious condition and 430 fatalities.
