Testing young schoolchildren for the coronavirus is stirring controversy in Israel, with resistance from both parents and school administrations. Last month, shortly after the beginning of the school year and ahead of the three-week Jewish holiday period, the government decided that all pupils aged 3 to 12 would need to take an antigen coronavirus test before returning to school on Sept. 29. Preschool and elementary students who have recovered from a bout with the virus are now obligated to take an antigen test before returning to class. Parents report the test results directly to the Education Ministry.

Widening testing requirements are part of a plan by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to stop the spread of the virus. He hopes to avoid school closures and limit quarantine restrictions to confirmed cases.

The government is also running a pilot program called “Green Classroom.” Classmates of students testing positive for the coronavirus will be allowed to continue their studies without quarantining provided that they test negative every day for a week. If more than two students from the same class have confirmed cases after the third day, the entire class will be quarantined.

Clearly, there is reason to worry. The infection rate is dropping generally, but not in all sectors. For comparison, in the schools in Arab towns and villages did not close for the Jewish September holidays. Data collected by the Health Ministry show a rise in infection in these localities during that period, with schools apparently being the main source of infection.