Israeli Court Blocks Teachers Strike Over New COVID Rules

A Labor Court in Israel early Thursday morning blocked a planned teachers strike protesting new rules that went into effect on Thursday that lifts the requirement for school children to quarantine after an exposure to the coronavirus. The wildcat strike had been called by the Israel Teachers Union on Wednesday night. The union represents 150,000 teachers.

The Tel Aviv Labor Court in its ruling just hours before the start of the school day, said in its decision that the call for the strike came just 11 hours before the start of the school day, which was not enough time to rule thoughtfully on the subject or for schools and parents to prepare. Strikes generally require two-weeks notice.\

Israeli health officials had called on Wednesday for a delay of the new rules, as the number of virus cases has risen dramatically and due to concerns about pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome, an uncommon but serious side effect of COVID-19. Under the new rules, Israeli children will take two antigen tests a week, on Sunday and Wednesday. They will attend school unless they test positive, regardless of exposure.