Israel has reopened much of its activities after the success of the coronavirus vaccination: “This is the first step to return to normal life”

Israel is expected to return to routine today and, to facilitate this, the Ministry of Health has launched its “green passport” program. This document is mandatory from this Sunday to enter certain places and participate in certain activities. It can only be obtained by people who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from the coronavirus.

As part of the program, registered gymnasiums, theaters, hotels, concerts and synagogues can now operate.

“This is the first step to return to an almost normal life”, explained a few days ago the Minister of Health, Yuli Edelstein, during an in-depth briefing. Edelstein added that soon there will be workplaces that will have to require their staff to be vaccinated or be tested for coronavirus every 48 hours.

The green passport is granted to those who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus for a week, or to some 740,000 people recovered from the virus who are currently not entitled to the vaccine.

The passport can be downloaded via the smartphone app on the Ministry of Health website or through the ministry call center. Once citizens have updated their personal data, you will receive a printable green passport certificate that includes a scannable QR code. “Unlike the vaccination and recovery card, it is a high security code with a digital signature,” explained Rona Kaiser, vice president of information technology at the Ministry of Health.

Callers to the hotline can have their passport sent by e-mail, SMS or even by post.

How will establishments verify that the passport is legal? When you arrive at a store or other establishments, you will be asked to present your green passport. You can present the hard copy for scanning or you can open the app and present the digital confirmation. You will also be asked to show your ID.

Entrepreneurs can scan their certificate’s QR code through the app, but not through other standard scanning apps.

The green passport will be valid for six months from one week after the second dose.

Children who have recovered from the coronavirus can be issued a green passport and enter the same places as their parents without being tested. Your passport will appear on your parents’ passport.

Edelstein clarified on Thursday that there is and will be no obligation to vaccinate in Israel. “Anyone who decides not to be vaccinated is their right,” Edelstein said. “There will also be no personal sanctions against those who do not get vaccinated. You have to understand that getting vaccinated is a great privilege that has been granted to us, which many countries in the world have not realized. “

The minister added that there will be areas that will be open to everyone, even to citizens who have not been vaccinated, and that the possibility of expanding these areas depends on the vaccination rate of the entire population.

People who attempt to forge a green passport will face criminal charges and even risk jail time, he warned. “Anyone who thinks it’s a cinch and prints a certificate even though they haven’t been vaccinated will end up getting caught and that activity could also end in jail time,” Edelstein said.

The lifting of the restrictions is part of the second phase of the de-escalation that Israel began on February 7, after a third six-week nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The third phase will begin on March 7, the date on which the reopening of cafes and small restaurants and the return to school for students of courses that will continue until then in virtual mode are expected, the authorities said.

The country is gradually de-escalating to avoid another spike in infections, while continuing the world’s most advanced vaccination campaign and trying to reduce the morbidity rate, which has declined slightly in recent days.

About 47% of Israelis have already received at least one dose of the vaccine, and the government intends to vaccinate most of the population at the end of March, when the country holds general elections.

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