Israeli schools to stay open despite COVID-19 outbreak at high school

Israel allowed citizens to return back to their day-to-day life as infections decreased. However, the country saw an increase in the number of positive coronavirus cases a day after Israel reopened.

However, Israeli schools will remain open despite a COVID-19 outbreak at a high school, the health ministry said on Saturday.

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As the country saw more than 100 coronavirus cases after the country reopened, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that coronavirus curbs would be reimposed if infection rates increase. Majority of the new cases originated at one Jerusalem high school.

In a televised address, Netanyahu said it was still too early to say whether this showed a change in trend. The next few days would be examined to see whether there was a significant rise in infection rates that would require policy change, he said.

"It's too early to say whether there is a change in trend but it is not too early to say that there is a breakdown in discipline," Netanyahu said.

The Education Minister Yoav Gallant assured that a special team will make sure all educational institutions follow proper protocols of social distancing.

Israel has reported a total of some 17,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 284 deaths.

(With inputs from Reuters)