Minister of Construction and Housing Ze'ev Elkin addressed today (Wednesday), in an interview with Ben Caspit and Yinon Magal on 103FM radio, the surge in coronavirus cases and the looming restrictions - and addressed the possibility that Israel will enter a lockdown.
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Elkin: "I was among those who thought it was right to start the lockdown in August and not in September, for a number of reasons. Not immediately, but in another week if the data continues to rise.".
Elkin noted: "I am sitting in the Corona Cabinet that will meet tonight and meets frequently, where Health Ministry officials sit and express their opinions. I don't remember there being many suggestions from experts that were not approved by the Cabinet.".
He added: "We did not decide not to close the economy categorically, these are things that public figures cannot afford. We are monitoring reality, looking at the decisive parameter, which is the number of seriously ill patients and especially those on ventilators. This is what determines the health system's ability to deal with Corona.".
On the possibility of a lockdown - he said: "If necessary - a lockdown will be implemented. It all depends on the numbers and the degree of public response to vaccines. The absolute majority of seriously ill patients are 60 years old and older, so if they get vaccinated with a third vaccine, of course, the chance of preventing the lockdown will increase greatly.".
The minister added that this time there will be no 'discounts' for the Haredim and that they will enforce the Corona restrictions. According to him, in the previous government, since the Haredim were in the government - so politically they were careful, while in the current government, "there are no political aspects, there is no territory that no one interferes with, because it is Haredim and it is forbidden to enter there, because they sit in the government and it is a state within a state."'
Yinon Magal: Will you act like this in the Arab sector as well?
Elkin: "There is treatment, but there are special difficulties there, in terms of willingness to agree to vaccinations, for example, and we are trying to pay attention to that... There is a fundamental lack of trust.".
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The minister referred to the words of Minister Ayelet Shaked, who said that one must "also know how to accommodate, to accommodate the dead": "Ayelet said that it was an unsuccessful statement and apologized, but there is something in what she said that is very important. Ultimately, the risk of people who have been vaccinated getting sick with Corona and becoming seriously ill or dying is much smaller. Therefore, in terms of 'guarding your souls,' I call on everyone aged 60 and over to get vaccinated with a third vaccine.".
When asked about the polls - which give New Hope two mandates as of today: "I believe that ultimately the public will appreciate the work and trust us. First of all, the fact that thanks to us there was a change of government.".
