Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS

Israel to soon get the green light to go mask-free outdoors

Public health chief Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis: “Masks will have to stay in our bags at all times since it is still mandatory to wear them indoors.”

Israelis in Tel Aviv wear protective masks in accordance with coronavirus regulations, Oct. 26, 2020. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90.
Israelis in Tel Aviv wear protective masks in accordance with coronavirus regulations, Oct. 26, 2020. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90.

Israel’s rate of coronavirus continues to drop in the midst of a successful mass vaccination campaign against the coronavirus with public health chief Dr. Sharon Alroy-Pries saying on Tuesday that starting next week, Israelis will not be required to wear face masks outdoors.

“According to the latest data, when it comes to outdoors, but not during public gatherings, masks can come off starting next week,” she said, reported Ynet.

But, she added, “masks will have to stay in our bags at all times since it is still mandatory to wear them indoors. We do not know if someone next to us is infected or not, vaccinated or not, and closed spaces still pose a high risk. Therefore, masks will have to stay with us.”

Alroy-Pries said that 95 percent of the country has been labeled “green,” meaning no infection hotspots there. Still, she noted that 35 percent of the population, including children, remain unvaccinated with 1 million citizens over 16 also not having received a vaccine for COVID-19.

On Monday, according to the report, ministers voted to fully reopen all of Israel’s education system without dividing classes into capsules.

“When journalists make these requests, they’re really made on behalf of the public, not to bury the issue and respond 11 months later,” Randy Mastro, a former deputy New York City mayor, told JNS.
“Under any Republican administration, Israelis are never going to be sanctioned for simply advocating against aid to Hamas or advocating against illegal Palestinian construction,” Eugene Kontorovich, a law professor, told JNS.
The USAID Inspector General’s office is “also working to prevent Hamas-linked staff from jumping to other aid organizations operating in Gaza,” a senior Trump admin official told JNS.
“Regardless of how it is ultimately classified, incidents like this send shockwaves through the Jewish community,” Rabbi Noah Farkas of Jewish Federation Los Angeles told JNS.
Prosecutors said the man caused damage to both facilities before sending texts boasting about the vandalism.
Despite Israeli objections to previously reported terms, the official said Washington is confident that all U.S. allies “will get on board” with the emerging agreement.