Israel continues with lack of sophistication and will allow non-essential businesses to reopen from next Sunday

The Israeli government has authorized the reopening of non-essential stores – some of them only for those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 – starting next Sunday, in what represents a new stage in its slow deconfinement after the restrictions applied by the advance of the disease in the country.

The cabinet in charge of managing the pandemic has also decided that students in the fifth and sixth grades of primary and the last two years of secondary school can return to school in areas with low infection rates, after the youngest of preschool and first grades of primary did so last week.

At a time, Gyms, hotels, cultural or sporting event sites and swimming pools will be reopened for those who have been vaccinated with both doses or who have recovered from the virus, the Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister’s office said in a press release, Benjamin Netanyahu.

In this way, the mechanism with which you wish to regulate the access of the vaccinated to certain spaces will be implemented. However, entering shopping centers, markets, street shops, museums, libraries or religious temples will not be subject to this measure.

Likewise, From this Friday, restrictions on public meetings will be relaxed – but not completely: ten people will be allowed to gather indoors and twenty outside.

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 lockout to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

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

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

About 40% of Israelis have already received at least one dose of the vaccine, and the government intends to vaccinate most of the population by the end of March, when the country will hold general elections.

Since the start of the pandemic, Israel has recorded more than 730,000 infections and 5,414 deaths from coronavirus. It currently has more than 54,000 active cases. His hospital pressure remains relatively high, with more than 900 patients admitted in serious condition.

The largest study ever conducted in Israel, among 1.2 million people, shows a 94% reduction in symptomatic infections in people vaccinated against covid-19.

The study, published this Sunday by Clalit, the country’s main health mutual, compares the effectiveness of the vaccine among 600,000 users who have received two doses of Pzifer and the same number of people without inoculation.

The analysis also shows a 92% drop in the number of seriously ill people, compared to those who received no dose.

Israel has only used the Pzifer vaccine so far, despite having 100,000 doses of Moderna which it keeps in a cold room.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said currently 75% of those newly infected are under 39, after the campaign has reached the majority of the population over 60.

The researchers said the preliminary results of the ongoing research “are intended to emphasize to the population who have not yet been vaccinated that the vaccine is very effective and prevents serious illness.”

With information from EFE

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