Israel has lifted its requirement for wearing a mask in the street and has fully opened schools, as officials believe “progress” in fighting the pandemic is apparent. Less than one percent of recent Covid-19 tests showed positive.
The nationwide ban on going outside without an obligatory mask lifts on Sunday. All schools, from daycare to 12th grade, will also fully reopen, having been partly closed for over a year. Most classes will be held in pre-pandemic conditions, with no social-distancing requirements, but students will still have to wear masks indoors, except when in a school gym or canteen.
Face coverings in indoor public spaces remain obligatory, and health officials also recommend the wearing of a mask when attending a large outdoor gathering. “We must behave correctly in order not to scuttle the progress made,” the chief of Israel’s health ministry, Chezy Levy has warned.
The state is “taking risks” in easing anti-Covid measures, particularly in schools, cautioned the official, who reminded citizens that 20 percent of teachers have still not been vaccinated. Children under 16 are not currently allowed to be inoculated, but permission may be given next month, with a suggestion being floated that there may be a program to vaccinate those aged 12 to 15 years old.
Earlier this week, Israel announced it would allow vaccinated foreign tourists arriving in groups to enter the country from late May onwards. They will be required to undergo a PCR test before boarding an Israel-bound plane, and to prove vaccination or recovery from Covid-19 on arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. (RT)