Israel to partially reopen schools as it unveils lockdown exit plans

A woman receives a vaccination against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a temporary Clalit healthcare maintenance organisation (HMO) centre, in Herzliya

Credit: Reuters

Israel is to partially reopen schools in towns where more than 70 per cent of over 50s have been vaccinated, as the government unveils plans for a phased exit from lockdown.

Nursery children, and children aged 6-9 and 17-18 will be allowed to go back to school on Thursday in so-called green and yellow zones under the new strategy which prioritises those leaving school and those just starting.

Orange zones can also reopen classes for those age ranges, but only if 70 per cent of over 50s in the area have been vaccinated, while red zones cannot yet reopen schools.

According to the Times of Israel, only around 10 towns in the orange zones currently meet the requirements to be allowed to reopen.

Most schools have been closed across Israel for the past month due to the lockdown.

Ministers have also agreed on a rough timetable for reopening the economy, having removed some restrictions on Sunday, such as the ban on travelling 1000 yards beyond the home.

On February 23, if three million of the 9.1m-strong population has received two vaccine doses and 90 per cent of over 50s have been inoculated, then shopping centres and gyms can reopen. 

The R number, which calculates how far Covid is spread within the population, must also be below 1. Ministers may also reopen schools to students aged 9-13.

The third stage is expected to begin on March 3, when four million Israelis, including 95 per cent of over 50s, have received both doses.

At that point, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to fully reopen, though a vaccine certificate will be needed for larger cultural events such as concerts.

A health worker of the Maccabi Health vaccination centre administers a dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine

Credit: Jack Guez

Israel, the world’s fastest vaccinator, has already protected more than a third of the population from the virus and the jabs are now available to everyone over 16.

But it has been slower to reopen the economy than expected due to a surge in Covid variants, such as the British and South African strains.

There are also reports of persistent breaches of coronavirus restrictions, notably in ultra-orthodox neighbourhoods where there is intense distrust of the authorities.

Some ultra-orthodox communities rioted over the country’s third lockdown, which was partially lifted this week, with buses hijacked and set alight in the town of Bnei Brak.