While at first health officials were recommending slowing down Israel’s opening given the reproduction rate (R) that has been holding around one, the cabinet decided to move forward and the government approved the plan.More children will return to school and additional commerce and recreation will be available to the public.
Entry into many of the new offerings are subject to a green passport, which can be obtained through the Health Ministry for anyone who has been fully vaccinated with two shots for at least a week. In most cases, children under the age of 16, who are not allowed to be vaccinated, will not be able to accompany their vaccinated parents.
Here is what will change on Sunday:
Schools – Students in grades 7-10 will return to their classrooms in green and yellow cities and those “light orange” cities in which at least 70% of people over the age of 50 are vaccinated or recovered. Because of the capsule system, students will only be in school two or three days per week.Universities/colleges/other post-secondary schools – These will reopen to green passport holders, provided the schools can provide distance learning to anyone who cannot or chooses not to vaccinateRestaurants and cafes – Green passport holders will be able to sit indoors or outdoors, non-vaccinated people will be able to sit outside. Restaurants and cafes will operate according to the Purple Ribbon outline, at up to 75% capacity or no more than 100 people. Two meters will need to be maintained between tablesHotels – Dining rooms can open at up to 50% capacity or 300 peopleEvent halls, attractions, conferences – Open to green passport holders (5% of attendees can show a negative coronavirus test); up to 50% capacity and not more than 300 peopleSport and other cultural events – Up to 500 people indoors and up to 750 people outside. In stadiums with more than 10,000 seats, as many as 1,000 people can attend inside and up to 1,500 outside. Tickets must be sold in advanceSynagogues and other houses of prayer – Up to 50% occupancy for synagogues that have been registered under the green passport program and in which there are permanent seats. If there are no permanent seats, one person per 7 sq.m. In all cases, up to 500 peopleGeneral gathering limits – 20 inside, 50 outside (except in red areas where the limit remains 10 and 20, respectively)Airports and international travel – 3,000 Israelis will be able to enter the country per day, in accordance with an aviation schedule established by the Transportation and Health ministries. People can return from the following destinations: New York, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Kyiv, Hong Kong and TorontoNew arrivals – Subject to home isolation in accordance with the Health Ministry guidelines, increased enforcement will be carried outIsolation hotels – Will continue to operate for those who need themOutgoing flights – Vaccinated Israelis will be able to freely leave the countryThe green passport program will also apply to those who have been inoculated with the Israeli Brilife vaccine. Babies under the age of 1 will be able to accompany their parents. Establishments will no longer be required to take people’s temperatures.Any establishment that breaks the regulations will be fined NIS 5,000.The regulations are in place until Saturday, March 20, except for the education regulations, which are valid until Saturday, April 3.