Israel is tightening the corona screws again. For outdoor events with more than 100 participants, a mask is again mandatory – the Corona cabinet decided at a meeting on Tuesday evening. Even events with fewer than 100 participants are only allowed to visit those who have been vaccinated, recovered or people with a negative corona test result.
Children now also have to show a negative corona test result upon entry. The new regulations are due to come into force on Sunday.
Because of the delta variant: The corona numbers are increasing in the model country Israel(04:54)
Even before the cabinet meeting, the government had passed new travel restrictions. Israelis who come from Germany, among others, have to be in quarantine for at least seven days – even if they are fully vaccinated. The regulations apply from August 11th. For German and other foreign tourists, an entry ban to Israel continues to apply.
Lockdown when numbers don’t go down
Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz (62) also swore citizens to lockdown in September if the numbers do not decline by then. Since there are several Jewish holidays coming up next month, a lockdown here would be less damaging from an economic point of view, Gantz told the Corona cabinet.
Israel recently recorded significantly higher corona numbers again. According to data from the Israeli Ministry of Health on Tuesday, 3,818 new cases were confirmed on Monday. Previously, the number was 2121.
Almost 5.4 million of the approximately 9.3 million Israelis are fully vaccinated. The Ministry of Health recently released figures that the effectiveness of the Biontech / Pfizer vaccine used in Israel has declined sharply since early June.
According to the ministry, the vaccination only prevents corona infection by 39 percent and serious illnesses by 91 percent. At the same time, the more contagious Delta variant is spreading in the country. (SDA / euc)