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Israel does not currently intend to follow new U.S. guidelines that relax mask-wearing requirements for fully vaccinated people, the Kan public broadcaster reported.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new guidelines on Monday, saying fully vaccinated Americans can congregate with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or social distancing.
The recommendations also state that vaccinated people can reunite in a similar way with people considered to be at low risk of serious illness, as in the case of vaccinated grandparents visiting healthy children and grandchildren.
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However, senior officials from Israel’s health ministry told Kan that Israel would not yet advocate for similar measures, saying there was not yet enough information on whether people vaccinated could always transmit the virus.
Kan called the Israeli approach “very strict”, given the clear evidence that vaccines drastically reduce infections.
The issue is likely to come up in a few weeks during the Passover feast, when families traditionally come together for large, festive Seder meals. Last year’s holiday was celebrated as part of Israel’s first – and tightest – coronavirus lockdown, with many seniors forced to celebrate on their own.
Channel 12 reported, without citing a source, that health ministry officials have started discussions on whether to facilitate family reunification.
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein told Channel 12 on Sunday that he hoped families would be able to celebrate Passover together at the end of the month.
“I really hope we can be with the whole family… I’m hopeful, and that’s a hope with a pretty good foundation… only with good behavior. [by the public], we will be able to avoid more lock-ups. I really ask everyone to help us in this area, ”said Edelstein.
Perahia Shilo hosts the Passover dinner alongside a photo of her children and grandchildren on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover in the West Bank settlement of Efrat on April 8, 2020 (Gershon Elinson / Flash90)
The CDC has released its guidelines to meet growing demand as more adults get vaccinated and wonder if it gives them more freedom to visit family, travel, or do other things. things they had done before the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world. Last year.
“We know people want to get vaccinated so they can start doing the things they love with the people they love again,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.
The CDC continues to recommend that fully vaccinated people continue to wear well-fitting masks, avoid large gatherings, and physically move away from others when in public. The CDC has also advised people who have been vaccinated to get tested if they develop symptoms that could be linked to COVID-19.
Officials say a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine. About 30 million Americans – only about 9% of the U.S. population – have been fully immunized with a federally authorized COVID-19 vaccine so far, according to the CDC.
In Israel, the percentage is much higher. Israel vaccinated its five millionth citizen against the coronavirus on Monday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu predicted that the entire adult population would be vaccinated by the end of April.
Granby kindergarten teacher Christina Kibby (right) receives the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from pharmacist Madeline Acquilano, at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut on March 3, 2021 (AP Photo / Jessica Hill)
Of the five million who have now received the first dose of the vaccine, 3,789,118 have also received the second, according to health ministry figures released on Monday. I
Since the start of the coronavirus epidemic early last year, 803,260 people have been diagnosed with the virus and there are 37,698 active patients.
Of Israel’s 9.3 million people, some three million, including children and cured, were not initially eligible for vaccination. Israel announced last week that it would start giving the recoveries a single blow.
The prime minister also said on Monday that he had been in contact with Pfizer and that the company would soon announce a vaccine approved for use on children.
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