About half of people in Israel are on their third dose of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine.
In Israel, due to a decrease in the daily incidence of coronavirus, the authorities decided to suspend the use of COVID-passports. Also, some restrictions will be lifted in the country.
This was announced by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet after a meeting with representatives of the health system, writes Associated Press.
Bennett said the Omicron wave in Israel has been “broken” and further lifting of quarantine restrictions imposed to combat the coronavirus is expected. Green Pass, Israel's digital vaccination passport, is issued to citizens who have recovered from the coronavirus or received at least three doses of the vaccine against the disease. They are essential for visiting indoor spaces and large events.
According to newsru.co.il, Israel plans to cancel the use of the Green Pass from March 1. Since then, only the requirement to do an antigen test before entering the homes of the elderly will remain. Also on the eve, it was announced the admission to Israel of foreigners with unvaccinated children under 12 years old (subject to a negative test at Ben Gurion Airport) and the abolition of the “green standard” at conferences and in banquet halls.
However, the ban on the entry into Israel of unvaccinated foreign citizens over the age of 12 and the mandatory wearing of masks in enclosed spaces will remain. All these decisions will be taken for government approval.
As indicated, although the number of new infections in Israel remains high, the country's Ministry of Health has reported a constant decrease in serious cases of COVID-19 since the peak of the Omicron wave in early February. On February 16, almost 22.6 thousand new cases of infection were reported. On January 23, the country set an anti-record for the number of infections in 24 hours – about 83.7 thousand cases.
To date, about 48% of Israel's 9.4 million residents have received three doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. More than 72% of the country received at least one dose.
