The government also announced on Wednesday that it was closing Israel's borders to all foreign nationals, even if they do have a place to self-isolate.
The chief rabbi’s phone ruling is based on the Jewish legal principle that saving a life — or pikuah nefesh — trumps nearly all other religious requirements.
According to the Times of Israel, the Israeli Health Ministry welcomed the ruling, saying the importance of a senior rabbi weighing in on the matter “speaks for itself and shows that an emergency requires accelerated activity lest — heaven forbid — a calamity occur.”
Observant Jews tend not to use electronic items over the Jewish day of rest.
Rabbi Yosef also ruled that synagogues in hospitals should be closed to maintain social distancing.
