Officers in protective suits
Officers in protective suitsIsrael Police spokesperson

The Cabinet on Monday night approved the new emergency regulations in a way that would further restrict the civilian population as part of the efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

According to the regulations, gatherings will not be permitted in the public space, including for the purpose of prayers and weddings.

The Western Wall will allow one minyan of 10 persons who are within 2 meters of each other to be held at each prayer service. A funeral will be held in an open space only and attended by up to 20 people. A circumcision ceremony will be attended by up to 10 people.

The government has also decided that leaving a place of residence will be permitted for individuals or people living in the same home, for a short time period and at a distance of up to 100 meters from the residence.

For workplaces, it has been determined that before an employee arrives at the workplace, the employee will take his temperature and fill out a statement about taking his temperature and being free of symptoms (body temperature above 38°C, cough, difficulty breathing), which he will bring to the workplace. The employer must collect and keep the forms.

In a workplace where a distance of 2 meters between employees cannot be maintained, the employer must take care to ensure other means of preventing infection.

The regulations state that every employee will be assigned personal equipment as much as possible. Equipment used by more than one person will undergo rigorous disinfection before each transfer from person-to-person.

Employees will also be instructed to strictly adhere to hygiene rules, including hand washing and, when using the elevator in the workplace, there will be no more than two passengers in the elevator at one time.

Labs for repairing communications products and computers will also be allowed to receive customers at the business in accordance with the Ministry of Health's guidelines. Delivery services are permitted for all types of products and in accordance with the Ministry of Health guidelines.

In addition, the government approved regulations that limit the number of workers in the workplace and will take effect on Wednesday.

It was determined that no more than 10 employees or 15% of the workforce, whichever is higher, would be at the same time in a non-essential workplace. Notwithstanding, an employer may increase the maximum number of employees allowed to stay simultaneously up to a rate of 30% of the workforce as long as the increase is essential to the ongoing workplace activities, and the employer has reported to the CEO of the Ministry of Economy the names of the employees whose presence is required in the workplace and the reasons for which their presence is required as stated.

It was further determined that the CEO of a business defined as an essential workplace would not be permitted to instruct administration employees to arrive at the workplace except in cases where their presence is essential.

In a non-essential workplace, customer service will not be possible in the workplace except for the provision of essential products or services, provided that the number of service providers is reduced as much as possible.

In a workplace that usually employs workers in shifts, the employer will, as much as possible, place the same group of employees together on the same shift.

With a view to reducing the number of public sector employees staying in the workplace, it was determined that as of Wednesday, a CEO would not allow the entry of essential workers in the workplace at a rate exceeding 20% ​​of the workforce. The manager is required to submit a report to a service commissioner regarding any exception in which he will describe the extent of the additional essential workers whose attendance is essential and the reasons why.

The government has also approved adding regulators from the public sector who are qualified to impose fines, which are not essential workers in their offices, to help increase enforcement of the ordinances and regulations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.