In Israel, we won’t have to wear more chin straps in the streets – Telam

The Israeli government informed on Thursday that from next Sunday it will no longer be compulsory to wear face masks on the streets, a further sign of confidence in the advanced vaccination campaign and the sustained decrease in new infections and the total number. of active cases.

Minister of Health Yuli Edelstein announced the decision, which for weeks had already discussed in the government and the media, but two national holidays were allowed to pass, to avoid massive concentrations of people without masks, still on the streets.

“At this stage, with a smaller number of cases and with the majority of the population vaccinated or recovered (from the disease), it makes sense from an epidemiological and public health point of view to lift this requirement”, analyzed the director. . a few days ago, from the Sheba Medical Center for Travel Medicine and Tropical Diseases, Dr Eyal Leshem, to the Jerusalem Post.

Israel currently has around 3,000 active cases of Covid-19, well below tens of thousands of just a few weeks ago.

Another sign of normalization of the situation, on Sunday, face-to-face classes will also return for the entire education system, without bubbles or segmented classes.

Reopening to tourism

At the same time, the Israeli government announced on Wednesday that From May 23, foreign tourists can enter if they can demonstrate that they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. In addition, they must undergo a PCR test before boarding the flight and a serological test upon arrival at Tel Aviv airport.

Israel already has more than 60% of its population vaccinated and has seen a 97% reduction in the contagion curve since last January.