Two “quarantine hotels” are being prepared to house ultra-Orthodox coronavirus patients in Israel beginning on Tuesday, Hebrew media reported on Monday.
The hotels, which according to Channel 12 will be located in Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh, will be separated by gender and serve food with strict kosher supervision to fit the needs of the ultra-Orthodox community. Two more hotels are being prepared to open in the future, according to the report.
The announcement follows Hebrew media reports on Sunday that despite representing just 10 percent of Israel’s population, the ultra-Orthodox make up half of all Israelis being treated in hospitals for coronavirus.
While Israel’s Arab-Israeli and ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods tend to be overcrowded, police have also cited difficulty in enforcing social distancing directives in ultra-Orthodox communities.
Community leaders praised the solution, reported the Times of Israel, with Bnei Brak rabbis calling for residents to cooperate with Health Ministry directives.