Prior to the government meeting on Monday, Jerusalem and Heritage Minister Rabbi Rafi Peretz (Jewish Home) called for the adoption of the "capsule" method in educational institutions.
In a Facebook post, Peretz wrote, "When we keep the guidelines, the chance of infection drops dramatically - and this has proven itself in Religious Zionist yeshivas. Out of 7,000 students in post-high school and hesder Religious Zionist yeshivas, only 13 students were infected and 103 were quarantined."
"The capsule method, which we used while I was still Education Minister, has proven itself. In the past two months, I visited these institutions and I saw that the integration of the capsule model, together with strict adherence to social distancing guidelines, [proper] hygiene, and wearing masks, have protected students from infection.
"I will demand that the government continue the capsule model in Religious Zionist yeshivas, but at the same time increase enforcement. Yeshivas or other educational institutions which do not keep to the rules should be fined, and immediately closed."
On Monday, the government held a meeting to discuss implementing additional restrictions in an attempt to stem the spread of COVID-19. Among the steps discussed was the closure of all yeshivas, but it was agreed that yeshivas should be allowed to continue operating, if they did so using the capsule method.