Health

Israel reopens cafes, bars, restaurants for vaccinated ‘green pass’ holders

Jerusalem, Mar 7 (efe-epa).- Israel took the most significant step in its post-vaccination relaxation of coronavirus restrictions on Sunday as cafes, bars and restaurants reopened, travel rules were eased and university students were allowed back in classrooms, among other measures, which prioritize those who are immunized against the coronavirus.

With more than 50% of the population inoculated with at least the first dose of the vaccine, restaurants will be able to receive customers who present the so-called “green passport” given to those who have recovered from Covid-19 or have received the second dose within the past week.

Capacity limits of 75% have been set and those who do not present the certificate required for admission can be seated at outdoor tables.

From Sunday, venues for cultural events can also open, but are not allowed to exceed 50% capacity, while only those carrying a green pass are allowed in.

In addition to university students, students between 11 and 14 years of age attending schools in the country’s cities classified as green or yellow based on low infection and vaccination rates may also return to class, while students of religious institutions may only return to class as long as they are in possession of a green pass.

Places of worship will also be able to receive worshippers who present this certificate, although in limited numbers. Those that accept to receive people who do not have the green pass will have stricter limits and will not be able to accommodate more than 20 people indoors and 50 outdoors.

Stadiums and auditoriums will be able to receive large numbers of people, with limits of between 500 and 1,500 people depending on their capacity and whether they are open or closed.

Finally, the new regulations also extend to the entry and exit of passengers through Ben Gurion International Airport, which has operated on a very limited basis since the end of January and will be able to receive as of today up to 1,000 Israeli citizens per day, a figure that will increase to 3,000 in the coming days.

Israel has thus almost completely lifted the restrictions implemented during the third lockdown, which lasted for six weeks from the end of December and which it has been slowly relaxing since mid-February.

The country’s swift vaccination campaign, with nearly five million people inoculated with the first dose of Pfizer’s vaccine and nearly four million with the second, has been instrumental in bringing forward the reopening. EFE-EPA

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