Israel’s Health Ministry has decided not to launch a campaign to provide a fourth booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine to people ages 60 and up, those at high risk, and health care workers.
Professor Nachman Ash, director-general of the Health Ministry, did not confirm the decision, according to Israel’s Channel 13 News, thus delaying the start of the campaign.
Likewise, a new directive that would have again sent some middle school and high school students back to remote learning via Zoom may also be headed for the dustbin.
The Coronavirus Cabinet decided earlier in the week that schools in which less than 70 percent of the student body has been vaccinated, and those in orange and red localities, will move to distance learning.
In grades 7 to 12, that restriction was to take effect starting Sunday. In grades 1 to 6, schools and communities were given a three week to one month period in which to prepare for the directive.
But following news coverage of the decision, sources quoted by Israel’s Channel N12 News said Education Minister Yifat Shasha Biton “strongly opposes” transitioning students to Zoom studies and that she will do “everything in her power” to keep the students in their classrooms.
“The minister objected during the cabinet meeting to the decision, saying that sending the children home now is to cause them harm, and that the entire cabinet must fight to preserve the school routine for the children.”
It is not yet clear when the Knesset Education Committee will discuss the restrictions, which have already been approved by the government cabinet.