Posted on 08/03/21
| News Source: i24
New restrictions approved as outbreak continues with no end in sight
Israel's coronavirus cabinet decided on new restrictions Tuesday night in an effort to contain an outbreak of the highly contagious delta variant, warning the public that unless cases are brought down the restrictions will become more severe, including closures.
The new regulations, pending government approval, will go into effect on August 8.
They include extending the "green pass" vaccination certificate to gatherings of fewer than 100 people and for all ages; wearing a mask in open spaces where there is a crowd of 100 or more people; reducing attendance of government ministries to 50 percent; and recommending the private sector move to a work-from-home format.
Other new measures include isolating a vaccinated adult caring for a minor under the age of 12; increasing the enforcement of isolation and masking violations; avoiding gatherings in closed spaces if not necessary; and calling on adults over the age of 60 to avoid gatherings and encounters with unvaccinated people indoors.
The coronavirus cabinet also reaffirmed the earlier decision by the Knesset (Israel Parliament) Labor, Welfare and Health Committee to add 18 countries to the severe travel warning list following the recommendation by the Health Ministry.
Returnees from these countries, including vaccinated individuals, must quarantine for a minimum seven-day period.
The newly added countries are Ukraine, Italy, Iceland, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), United States, Botswana, Bulgaria, Germany, Netherlands, Tanzania, Greece, Malawi, Egypt, Czech Republic, France, Cuba, Rwanda, and Tunisia.