The emotion of a group of children from a school in Israel when they learn that they will no longer have to wear a mask

Israel, with a very low number of infections and virtually no restrictions after rapid vaccination that minimized morbidity from COVID-19, This Tuesday lifted the mandatory use of masks in interior spaces such as classrooms and offices.

Video that has gone viral on social media shows the moment when a primary school teacher informs her students of this news and the group of children explodes with happiness because they no longer have to wear the mask in class after so many months of pandemic and fear. The set even shows how some boys destroy their masks while celebrating with their friends for taking another step back to normalcy.

Israelis were no longer required to cover their mouths in open areas since mid-April, and most of the limitations against the spread of the pandemic have been lifted after the country has carried out a rapid inoculation process whereby vaccinated more than half of its population in just over three months.

In view of this, despite the fact that the formal obligation to wear a mask indoors remains, its use in leisure places, bars, offices, shops or public transport it was already unusual. The new flexibility includes all these spaces and more, with specific exceptions such as plane flights, social welfare institutions or nursing homes.

Over 5.1 million people – out of a total population of about 9.3 million – have been vaccinated with both doses, and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 have also been recently vaccinated.

Right now, the country’s morbidity rate is almost laughable: yesterday, only 25 new cases were detected after performing more than 30,000 tests, with a percentage of positives of 0.1%. In turn, currently there are just over 220 people with the virus and only 29 are admitted in serious condition.

Despite this, Israel continued until recently with restrictions strict access rules from outside to limit the possible impact of new variants of COVID-19.

The entry of foreigners with a tourist visa has been banned since March 2020 and these restrictions were only relaxed at the end of May, when Visits by groups of vaccinated tourists were allowed during trips organized by authorized agencies and under strict preventive measures.

From the On July 1, the country plans to allow access to vaccinated tourists who arrive individually in the country. Israel recorded a total of 6,428 deaths by the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic and nearly 840,000 contaminations.

With information from EFE

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